Shubman Gill likely to lead Team India during upcoming tour of Zimbabwe - Reports
Opening batter Shubman Gill has emerged as a captaincy candidate for the Indian team, and is likely to lead the national side for the first time during the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. The Men in Blue are scheduled to play five T20Is, beginning from July 6 onwards.
Gill was recently part of the travelling reserves of the Indian squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup. However, he was released from the team after the group stages along with Avesh Khan. The opening batter could not make it to the main squad with India opting to open with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal as an option on the bench.
Prior to the World Cup, he had his first major captaincy experience when he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Gill was appointed captain of the franchise following Hardik Pandya's controversial switch to the Mumbai Indians (MI).
Initially, it seemed that either one of Hardik Pandya or Suryakumar Yadav would be leading the second-string side as they have done in recent times. However, according to a report by the Indian Express, the team management wishes to give them a break ahead of the long home season.
Shubman Gill led GT to five wins in his maiden season as captain
Gill had the huge responsibility of overseeing GT after Pandya's departure, and did not have strike bowler Mohammed Shami at his disposal as well. In his first-ever match as captain, he managed to secure a win against his former skipper, Hardik Pandya.
The youngster tried to make the most of the resources available to him in a difficult first season, and earned praise for how he led the side for the most part. GT ultimately ended up with five wins and seven losses to finish eighth on the league table with 12 points.
He will now have the task of guiding a second-string side rife with in-form players from the IPL. With Rahul Dravid's contract expiring right after the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the next head coach presumably taking up duties from the tour of Sri Lanka, Gill is expected to be joined by VVS Laxman as head coach for the tour.