Shubman Gill made a remarkable debut as India’s Test captain. He led by example with the bat, scoring a century in his first match in Leeds. Then, at Edgbaston, Gill delivered a stunning performance that could shape his legacy. He scored 269 runs in the first innings and followed it with 161 in the second, winning the Player of the Match award and helping India tie the series 1-1 against England.
Karthik Sees Shades of Kohli in Gill
Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik praised Gill’s confidence and poise. He felt the young skipper reminded him of Virat Kohli, especially in the way he handled the pressure.
On Sky Cricket’s podcast, Karthik shared, “Athers, you spoke about Virat Kohli. I met him a few days ago, and this talk about captaincy came up.” Referring to Kohli’s words, Karthik said, “He said people think, ‘I’m a great Test cricketer. I enjoyed my Test batting, which I did, but the fact is that getting my captaincy was the best thing to happen in my life.’ Why I am saying this is that the same line was used by Shubman Gill.”
Gill Thinks Like a Leader
Karthik pointed out that Gill, like Kohli, has already begun thinking as a captain. He said that Gill isn’t just batting for himself anymore—he’s making decisions for the team’s success.
“Gill said ‘I used to bat differently, but now that I’ve got captaincy, I almost think this is what my team requires, rather than me wanting to do something individually as a batter,’” Karthik revealed. He added, “I said wow, this is something for which the world of cricket has to take notice.”
Skill, Mindset, and Leadership
Karthik, who once captained Gill at Kolkata Knight Riders, said Gill now has all the qualities needed in a great leader. “Here is a man who has the appetite, he’s got the skill, he’s got the technique, but now he’s got the mindset as well. I’m the captain, I’m going to lead from the front, lead off the front foot,” he added.
Focus Turns to Lord’s
Although Gill’s captaincy began with a massive 336-run win at Edgbaston, Karthik believes the journey has just begun. Gill now aims to continue this momentum in the next match at Lord’s, a historic ground where he hopes to leave a lasting mark.
