With important series against Australia and New Zealand coming up, as well as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 set for next year, Team India is about to enter a crucial phase, especially in Tests and One Day Internationals (ODIs). Shubman Gill, who will lead the national squad in his maiden ICC competition, is the main focus.
Gill’s team, who are also watching World Test Championship points after a crucial two-Test series, had a good start as a result. There are four ODIs left in India’s New Zealand tour, along with white-ball matches against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Every series is more important for the team’s preparations because the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is set for 2027.
Ajinkya Rahane, who is currently a pundit on the expert panel for India’s tour of New Zealand on Sony Sports Network, shared his evaluation of Gill’s leadership on his YouTube channel. Rahane, a former Test cricket captain of India, lavishly praised the 25-year-old’s approach to the position.
Rahane cited Gill’s ability to handle players and his on-field manner as the most notable aspects of his captaincy. He pointed out that although any player’s batting form can fluctuate, Gill stands out as a leader because of the confidence he brings to the field. Rahane also noted that Gill has been getting better with every series, making timely decisions and skillfully rotating his bowlers.
On his YouTube channel, Rahane said, “Shubman’s performance, batting-wise, has been brilliant. His records tell you a story. What I like most about him, the way he plays, is his confidence. The way he walks onto the field, his attitude, that intent, is very important. Form can fluctuate. You score runs one day; you might not the next, but Shubman obviously has that confidence, and he has been scoring runs of late. But the most important thing is how he is improving as a captain with every series. He is handling the players very maturely, rotating his bowlers and making the right changes. So, those are good signs that he is growing with every series.”
After defeating New Zealand by five wickets in the first ODI, India will play four more ODIs before starting a two-match Test series that is important for World Test Championship (WTC) points. Following the tour of New Zealand, India will host Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after returning home from a white-ball series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
