Mohammad Kaif and Shubman Gill century (Source: Mohammad Kaif/Youtube and Stuart Leggett | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Mohammad Kaif believes that Shubman Gill is ready to take charge as India’s next ODI captain after Rohit Sharma’s tenure comes to an end. The 25-year-old took over as India’s Test captain in the recently-concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. He guided a relatively inexperienced team from the front as the series ended 2-2.
Gill impressed Kaif with his calmness and composure as a captain. The former India cricketer noted that Gill was under a lot of pressure in the lead-up to the series as his numbers with the bat weren’t satisfactory. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator was pleased with how the youngster managed his responsibilities, both as a batter as well as a captain.
“He was such a calm captain. He led with composure under pressure. He will get the ODI captaincy as well because we don’t know how long Rohit Sharma will continue as captain. Gill is ready to take over. He scores in white-ball. He has performed well as captain here in Tests and led from the front. When you go with a young team, you have to do both things – score with the bat and do well as captain. A brilliant tour for him overall,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Gill finished the five-match series as the highest run-getter. He amassed 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40. The Punjab batter slammed four centuries, including a career-best 269 in the first innings of the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
“Shubman Gill, as captain, created opportunities with both hands in this series. When he became captain, there were many questions as to why he was made captain, looking at his Test record. A young captain reached England under a lot of pressure with a young team. He answered with his bat and it came to a point where he was compared to breaking Sir Don Bradman’s record. Such a strong comeback with the bat,” he added.
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