'He has got his plans very clear': Virat Kohli backs Shubman Gill's leadership skills
Virat Kohli has endorsed Shubman Gill as India's long-term leader, highlighting his tactical intensity and clear vision for the team.
In a massive show of support for the new era of Indian cricket, veteran batter Virat Kohli has thrown his weight behind Shubman Gill, expressing confidence that the young leader is destined to captain the nation for a long time. Speaking ahead of India's upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, Kohli highlighted the tactical maturity and intensity that the 27-year-old captain brings to the side.
A Leader with Vision and Intensity
Kohli, who commanded the Indian men's team across all formats between 2014 and 2022, noted that while Gill is still gaining experience in the captaincy role, his fundamental approach is spot on. According to Kohli, Gill possesses the rare ability to think ahead of the game and implement unconventional strategies to break partnerships.
"Shubman, the captain, is still learning. He is still young in the role, but he has got the right perspective and the right kind of intensity to lead the Indian team," Kohli remarked. He specifically pointed out Gill's proactive nature on the field, stating: "He thinks of ways to get batters out in the field, which is always a sign of doing something different or staying a step ahead."
The former skipper further elaborated on Gill's tactical flexibility, mentioning his willingness to:
- Utilize diverse field placements to unsettle opponents.
- Apply constant pressure on the batting side.
- Communicate effectively with bowlers to orchestrate specific bowling attacks.
The Rise of Captain Gill
Since taking over the Test captaincy in 2025 and subsequently leading the ODI squad, Gill has already begun etching his name into the history books. His leadership was notably evident during India's massive 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston in 2025. Beyond his captaincy, Gill's individual form has been stellar, boasting over 3,000 runs in both Test and ODI formats, with an impressive average exceeding 60 in ODIs.
Kohli acknowledged that while the learning curve continues, the core qualities are present. "He has got his plans very clear in terms of how he looks at us operating in the field. Of course, with more experience and understanding situations, the kind of calls you take are things that he will keep working on and improving," Kohli added. He concluded by emphasizing that Gill's desire to lead the team the right way is his greatest asset, predicting, "I see him leading for a long time, and he will be absolutely fine."
West Indies Series: A Major Return
The upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting this Sunday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, marks a significant moment for the squad. The series will see the return of ODI stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the lineup as India seeks to recover from a recent 1-2 series defeat in England.
India's ODI squad for the West Indies series:
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- KL Rahul (Vice-captain)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Dhruv Jurel
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Prasidh Krishna
- Gurnoor Brar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Auqib Nabi
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Naman Dhir
The first ODI is scheduled to begin at 2 PM IST on Sunday, with live coverage available on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.