Let’s face it, captaining Team India on a Test tour in England is a tough gig. That’s the epitome of high-pressure cricket. Now, imagine being just 25 years old and being named captain on a tour of this nature. There’s been a fair amount of fanfare over the talented Shubman Gill – the right-handed batter with all the finesse of a silk scarf dancing in the breeze. Although the first Test results put Team India at 1-0 down (and although it wasn’t pretty), former head coach Ravi Shastri isn’t about to jump out of a window. He is advocating for something that is atypical in Indian cricket – patience.
“Give him the reins for three years,” Shastri urged — and honestly, he might just be spot on.
The Gill Factor: More Than Just a Centurion
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way–Gill can bat. More than just runs on a board, that 147 carved a path and lit a fire—leadership at its most poetic. He looked totally in control while the wickets fell around him. It was not reckless or flamboyant; it was considered, calm, and strong–all the things you want in a Test captain’s innings.
But Gill has offered more than just his run scoring. At the crease, he has a certain comfort about him—Shastri referred to it as a “lazy elegance.” When I say “lazy,” I don’t mean it in a pejorative sense. He’s one of those players who makes scoring look easy and almost elegant. Just his presence elicits confidence, and when a dressing room is faced with a series of defeats, that confidence can be contagious.
Why “Three Years” Makes So Much Sense
Cricket in India—like a whirlpool of selections, advice, and fixes (technical, mental, etc.)—seems to be a merry-go-round. Lose a match and you’re out of form. Drop a catch—what’s the point, replace him!In an era of instant coffee and instant results, Shastri’s slow brew approach feels like vintage Test cricket—measured, matured, meaningful.
Here’s the reality: you cannot master how to lead in two matches. You can learn how to read the game in that time, learn to believe your instincts, and the pressure of the belief of one billion people for and against you, but you cannot learn to lead. For Gill, the wheels of transformation are already turning, and there’s no reverse gear. Gill confronting his post-match commentary after the loss – ownership of his faults, catches missed, etc., and not dodging and having a crack at the media illustrates maturity seldom matched by his years.
Had the selectors given Gill a longer rope, the selectors would have invested not just in a player but a leader. That kind of continuity can pay dividends for a Test side looking for stability in its performances abroad.
Building a Team Around Gill
The real victory isn’t about trusting Gill but about waiting for Gill’s leadership to lay the groundwork for a next-gen Indian Test side. Rohit and Virat aren’t going to be there forever. Where once stood giants, now rise Gill’s cover drives, Jaiswal’s fearless flair, and Siraj’s roaring seam—India’s next saga begins. And what better way to cultivate cohesion than with a captain who is maturing alongside them?
Sure, India missed catches. Sure, they collapsed as a lower order. But these are both problems relative to the team, not problems of captaincy. Gill cannot catch every ball or bat at No. 10. What he can do is captain this team through the tough times, if we allow him to.
So why the haste to judgment? Let’s just give Gill his three years. Cricketing legends are not born in just one series; they are built over time.
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