Steve Waugh, the legendary Australian captain, has endorsed Shubman Gill as a good choice for the role of India’s Test captain. Gill, is 37th player to captain India in the longest format, has stepped in after Rohit Sharma retired from Tests. He will take charge of a youthful Indian team, following the retirement of Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin from the format.
Although some experts have raised doubts about Gill’s leadership, Waugh is backing him. The former cricketer acknowledged that while Gill is a good fit, the role will challenge him.
“They’re in capable hands. Shubman Gill is a fantastic player, especially under pressure. He thinks clearly and is highly respected by his teammates. He’s a great choice, but it’s important to give him time to fully adapt to the role. It’s a huge responsibility – representing 1.4 to 1.5 billion people comes with immense pressure,” Waugh said to ANI.
Gill is set to lead India on their upcoming tour of England, which will kick off the new cycle of the World Test Championship. With 32 Tests to his name, Gill has accumulated 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05, including five centuries and seven fifties.
His leadership experience extends to five first-class matches, and at just 25 years old, he will be supported by Rishabh Pant, who is the new vice-captain.
Gill is leading Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025 and the franchise will face Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on May 30.
