Gill’s appointment drew widespread praise from cricket pundits, former players, and legends. Here’s a look at five experts who lauded the decision:
#5 David Gower
Former England captain David Gower, renowned for his elegant stroke play, said that with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli unlikely to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup, promoting Gill was a forward-looking move.
“The team will rely on young leaders like Gill to shape the future. This is a perfect opportunity for him to step up and guide India to success,” Gower said on a special edition of Cricket Predicta.
#4 Madan Lal
India’s 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal praised the selectors’ decision, calling it a forward-looking move. He added that it would be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma performs under Gill’s leadership.
“Gill will be prepared for the World Cup. Now it will be interesting to see how Rohit performs under his leadership. He has proven himself in Test cricket and is an excellent leader,” Lal said on Cricket Predicta.
#3 Aaron Finch
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch endorsed the decision, highlighting Gill’s leadership on the England tour despite having limited support. Finch emphasized that with Sharma and Kohli around, Gill could now rely on their experience.
“Shubman has already shown what a good leader he is in T20 and Test cricket. He’s a brilliant white-ball player, and the England Test series showed he can take the next step and lead India across formats,” Finch told the ICC.
#2 AB de Villiers
South African legend AB de Villiers, known as Mr 360, praised India for grooming Gill as a future leader, given there’s no guarantee Sharma or Kohli will play in 2027. He noted that having the veterans around would help Gill learn and grow.
“This was the right move. Shubman is young, in incredible form, and a fantastic leader. With Rohit and Virat alongside him, he’ll learn from two of India’s greatest players,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
#1 Sunil Gavaskar
Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar welcomed the appointment, stating that the focus is on India’s long-term plans for the 2027 World Cup. He also hinted that Gill could soon captain India in T20Is, where he is currently vice-captain.
“If Gill is good enough to captain in one format, he should be considered for others as well. Having multiple captains across formats is not ideal. This is a clear step towards grooming him as an all-format captain,” Gavaskar told Sports Today.
Gill’s appointment marks a new era in Indian cricket, signaling the rise of a young leader ready to shape the team’s future across formats.
