Shubman Gill is poised to captain India during their upcoming five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe. This marks a significant opportunity for Gill, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup squad as a reserve before being released. This will be his first time leading the national team, guiding a squad composed primarily of younger players. The series is set to take place in Harare, beginning on July 6.
The decision to appoint Gill as captain comes after senior players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav opted out of the Zimbabwe tour. Other key players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah, will also be resting following the T20 World Cup.
With these absences, the BCCI selection panel has finalized the squad for Zimbabwe and confirmed Gill’s captaincy after determining Hardik and SKY are unavailable.
Gill’s new role as captain could influence the selection process for future leadership within the Indian team, especially with Rohit Sharma likely to step back from T20 cricket post-World Cup. Over the past year, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have both led the T20I team in Rohit’s absence.
Shubman Gill
While Hardik and SKY are still top contenders for permanent captaincy roles, Gill’s tenure promises to enhance his leadership abilities, evidenced by his recent IPL performances.
Prior to this year’s IPL, Gill had minimal experience as a full-time captain, having only led Punjab twice in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with mixed results. His captaincy of the Gujarat Titans this season was challenging, as the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing eighth.
Despite this, Gill is hopeful that leading a young, talented squad in Zimbabwe will yield positive outcomes and help him rectify past shortcomings.
Gill’s squad for the Zimbabwe series is expected to include a mix of IPL performers and players from the West Indies, such as Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson, along with Avesh Khan. Additionally, eight new faces will join the team, including Harshit Rana, Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, and Tushar Deshpande.
These young players have had impressive IPL seasons, aligning with the BCCI’s goal of building a future-ready team, particularly looking ahead to the 2026 T20 World Cup. The team will be coached by VVS Laxman, with Gautam Gambhir likely to take over from the Sri Lanka tour onwards.
