Former World Cup winning coach with India, Gary Kirsten said that new Test captain Shubman Gill is primed to take the international stage by storm when he leads a transitioning India side against England in a 5-match Test series, set to start on Friday.
“I think Shubman is going to be a great leader. He’s a smart cricketer — he’s got a good brain for the game and understands his game. He’s very talented and a nice human being, which I think is really important. When you come into these leadership positions, you’re going to be put under pressure, and your leadership will be tested. For any young leader, your ability to learn how to lead, improve, and grow is constantly under scrutiny. But I believe he has all the raw materials to become a really good leader,” Kirsten told JioHotstar.
“The one thing I really like about Shubman is that he walks the talk. He’s very organised, very diligent with his training and preparation, and that sets a great example for other players. I think he’s primed to take on the international stage by storm,” the Gujarat Titans mentor added.
Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden also echoed Kirsten’s views but also said that Gill had big shoes to fill.
“He will have to find his footing in Test match cricket. There’s a very small sample size when it comes to his experience here in England. But it takes time to build a legacy and become a legend. Virat Kohli, for instance, is India’s most successful Test captain in terms of win percentage, so it’s not fair to compare. Shubman is a very good player, and he’s got all the attributes needed to succeed in English conditions,” he said.
“We’ve already had a glimpse of his leadership across other teams, and there’s no doubt he has the potential to grow into the role,” he added.