Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has backed Shubman Gill to take over the ODI captaincy after leading in the Test series against England. India was able to draw the Anderson-Tendulkar series 2-2 when Gill led the team for the first time in Test cricket.
Rohit Sharma is currently India’s ODI captain but Kaif expects Gill to take over the ODI captaincy. Gill has been performing consistently in the 50-over version and it would be interesting to note the selectors’ call.
Gill was able to lead from the front against England as he aggregated 754 runs in five Test matches at an impressive average of 75.4.
“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,” Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, there were doubts raised on selectors’ call when Gill was appointed as Test captain as he didn’t have a great red-ball record, especially in overseas conditions. However, Gill was able to prove his mettle with the bat in English conditions.
“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 said.
Kaif noted that Gill was very relaxed when Joe Root and Harry Brook added 195 for the four wicket at the Oval.
“When Brook and Root put up that partnership at The Oval and were running away with the game, I had my eyes on Shubman Gill and how he would react. He was very relaxed and knew that one moment would help them come back. He was calm, did not show frustration. It was a big example of the captain being calm under pressure. It was a do-or-die game and his body language reflected belief,” he added.
India would next take part in the Asia Cup.
