Shubman Gill: 'Wouldn't be surprised if Gill becomes T20 captain', says former England spinner

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has praised the decision to hand Shubman Gill the captaincy of the Indian ODI team after the Test series. Panesar called it a masterstroke and said Gill is a natural leader who thrives when given responsibility. Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Gill as the ODI captain for the limited-overs series against Australia this month.

Gill replaces Rohit

Gill replaced Rohit Sharma, under whose leadership India won the Champions Trophy this year. India will play a three-match ODI series against Australia starting October 19, followed by a five-match T20 series between the two teams. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that he personally informed Rohit about the team management's decision.

Panesar welcomed the decision.

Fans were surprised by Gill's appointment as captain in place of Rohit, and the reaction to it was mixed on social media. Panesar, however, welcomed the Indian team management's move, saying the leadership role is right for Gill. Panesar said, "I think it's a great decision because I've seen Gill perform really well. Making him captain alongside Rohit Sharma can help and guide him during the series. It's a really good move. We saw in England that he's a natural leader. When you give Shubman Gill responsibility, you see his best performance. I think we'll see his best in the ODI series. I wouldn't be surprised if he's also given the T20 International captaincy because I think he's a player who performs well when given responsibility."

Gill eyes the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Gill, on the other hand, is focused on the future and has his eyes set on the 2027 ODI World Cup. India is expected to play around 20 ODIs before this big event, and the new captain's goal is to return home with the prestigious trophy." "Captaining my country's ODI team and leading a team that's performing well is the biggest honor for me. It's a matter of great pride for me. I hope I can perform well. I think we have about 20 ODIs before the World Cup, and obviously our goal is the World Cup in South Africa," Gill said in a recent BCCI video.