“Shubman Gill has grown into the role of captaincy,” uttered Gujarat Titans‘ Director of Cricket, Vikram Solanki, at the pre-match press conference before the Mumbai Indians (MI) game. It was quite heartening for Solanki, who has known Gill closely, especially since GT roped him in as a draft pick for a mere Rs 4 crore back in its inaugural edition in 2022. But Gill’s rise to leadership in the IPL has been far from straightforward — and it now bodes well for Indian cricket’s future.
Sudden promotion to great growth: Gill’s captaincy
When Hardik Pandya made a sensational switch back to Mumbai Indians (MI) in a blockbuster pre-2024 trade, Gujarat were left with a leadership void. The management didn’t hesitate — they handed the reins to Shubman Gill, fresh off an Orange Cap-winning season.
But the early signs in 2024 were uncertain. Gill, thrust into the spotlight of one of the IPL’s most demanding jobs, looked visibly flustered. Gujarat’s bowling was thin, and results reflected that confusion as GT finished with just five wins in 14 games (8th position). Many critized him for not being able to be the leader that Pandya was.
Fast forward to IPL 2025, and Gill appears far more composed. With a better-rounded squad and the experience of a difficult season behind him, the 24-year-old is not just surviving — he’s thriving.
Gill not a ‘perfect’ captain but still getting the job done
That said, Gill’s captaincy hasn’t been flawless. Tactical missteps persist. The underuse of Washington Sundar, both in terms of selection and overs bowled, baffles many. Left-arm spinner Sai Kishore plays regularly but is under-bowled despite being one of the best spinners of IPL 2025. Questions also loom over Gujarat’s repeated decision to field only three or sometimes two overseas players. Yes, GT lost Kagiso Rabada early in the tournament, but they still had multiple options on the bench all the time.
There’s a growing perception that coach Ashish Nehra pulls many tactical strings. But leadership clarity was thrown into sharp relief when Gill sat out against Rajasthan Royals and Rashid Khan captained. That night, GT conceded a 35-ball century to 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and looked utterly rudderless. The entire GT bowling looked clueless, and the fact that Gill was not on the field didn’t help.
Kohli-like trait?
Gill is not a passive leader. The aggression seems to be overt when he’s on the field as a captain, something we used to associate with Virat Kohli’s style. Gill contests umpiring calls, rallies his bowlers, and sets aggressive fields.
Even with an all-Indian pace attack in several matches, his side has punched above its weight. GT sit fourth on the table with 14 points from just 10 matches and a formidable NRR of +0.867. They are most likely to qualify for the playoffs, and a consistent run can even take them to the top two. This would be hugely massive for Gill as a leader, considering many felt GT had an okayish squad for IPL 2025.
Why a good news for India?
India is going through a big change in leadership. Rohit Sharma is nearing the end of his career, and the team needs a young leader to take over. Rishabh Pant was seen as a possible option, but his captaincy in IPL 2025 has been disappointing. The burden of captaincy responsibility seems to have caught him big time.
Shubman Gill, on the other hand, is showing great signs. He is already the vice-captain of India’s ODI team and did a good job during the Champions Trophy 2025. Compared to anyone, Gill has been better with both the bat and as a captain. Yes, T20 cricket is different from Tests, but good leadership skills often show across formats — and Gill is proving that.
India’s next big Test series is in England — five matches in tough conditions. After losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, India need a strong statement. Gill’s newfound experience and a strong form could help India in both batting and leadership.
Most runs as captain in IPL since 2024
| Player | Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 22 | 891 | 104 | 44.55 | 154.68 | 1 | 7 | 85 | 30 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 26 | 756 | 97* | 44.47 | 163.28 | 0 | 6 | 61 | 41 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 19 | 705 | 108* | 44.06 | 142.71 | 1 | 6 | 72 | 22 |
| Sanju Samson | 20 | 656 | 86 | 46.85 | 149.77 | 0 | 5 | 61 | 29 |
| Rishabh Pant | 24 | 574 | 88* | 27.33 | 137.98 | 0 | 4 | 47 | 31 |
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