Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has backed the selectors’ call to appoint Shubman Gill as India’s new Test skipper. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has backed the youngster after Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement.
Gill, who is only 25 years old, can lead India for the next decade, according to Uthappa, if he embraces the leadership role. Gill has shown the promise to be India’s future and he would look to lead from the front.
“You have got to give tops to that selection committee because they have gone with foresight. Shubman is just 24 or 25 right now. If he gets this right, then you can see him leading the Indian Test side for the next 10 years, the next decade, and that leaves Indian cricket in great hands because he is a high-quality bat,” Robin Uthappa said on Star Sports show Game Plan.
Gill recently led Gujarat Titans to IPL 2025 playoffs and Uthappa noted that the youngster showed a massive improvement in his leadership as compared to IPL 2024, when GT could not make it to the last four of the tournament.
“We have seen his captaincy evolve from last year to this year just in the IPL, just the way he led the Gujarat Titans, the intensity with which he functioned, the decisions he made on the field, and the way he stood up for his teammates with the umpires or anything that happened on the field,” Uthappa elaborated.
On the other hand, former Indian head coach Gary Kirsten, who observed Gill from close quarters at GT, said the youngster has got all the ingredients to become a successful leader.
“He is going to be a great leader. He is a smart cricketer. He has got a good brain for the game. He understands his game deeply. He is very talented, and he is a nice human being. He has all the raw materials to become a really good leader,” he said.
“The one thing I like about Shubman is that he will walk his talk as well. He is very organized and diligent around his training and his preparation, which will be a great example to other players. I think he is primed to take on the international scene by storm,” Kirsten observed.
The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.
