‘Often when players are made captains, it impacts their batting’ – Rishi Dhawan shares his views on Shubman Gill’s captaincy

Shubman Gill has established himself as India’s captain across both Test and ODI formats since his appointment in May 2025 for Tests and October 2025 for ODIs. The young captain has led India in 11 Test matches and 15 ODIs, navigating various series with mixed results while maintaining his own batting standards.

Former Indian pacer Rishi Dhawan has offered his assessment of Gill’s captaincy, highlighting the balance the young leader has struck between his responsibilities and personal performance. Dhawan acknowledged that captaincy often affects a player’s batting form, but observed that Gill has managed this challenge effectively.

“Yes, definitely. As you can see, in whichever series he has captained, he has led very well. Often when players take on captaincy, it impacts their batting, but he is handling it smoothly and delivering extraordinary batting performances continuously,” Dhawan was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

Gill’s captaincy record and batting balance

Gill’s batting record under captaincy has been particularly noteworthy. In the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati, Gill scored an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls, anchoring India’s chase of 406 runs. In Test cricket, Gill registered 269 against England, which stands as the highest score ever made by an Indian captain in the format.

Dhawan’s assessment of Gill’s captaincy skills

Gill registered his first ODI series win as captain against Afghanistan at home in June 2026, when India won the three-match series 3-0. Under his leadership in the longest format, India has also achieved a series-levelling tour in England and secured a Test series victory against West Indies. These results demonstrated his ability to lead across different conditions and opposition.

Dhawan expressed confidence in Gill’s future as captain, particularly looking ahead to the World Cup. He noted that Gill would benefit from the guidance and support of senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are already in the team structure. The backing of experienced campaigners in the squad would help the young captain succeed at the highest level of international cricket.

“I believe he has emerged very well as a captain. By 2027, he will certainly captain very well in the World Cup. Moreover, to support and guide him, Rohit bhai and Virat bhai are there, so I don’t think there will be any problems at all,” Dhawan added.

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The 36-year-old also backed Rohit and Kohli in India’s ODI setup, highlighting their fitness, current performances and vast experience, which make them valuable assets ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

“Yes, absolutely, they should go. Given their fitness levels and how they are performing for the Indian team right now–coupled with the sheer amount of service they have given to the team–their experience alone is immense. They should definitely play and help win the World Cup for us,” he signed off.