Just months after captaining an IPL team for the first time, leading the Titans, Shubman Gill has been entrusted with Team India’s captaincy for the tour to Zimbabwe. The team travels to the African nation to play 5 T20Is between 6th to 14th July.

Shubman Gill's cricketing journey has been extraordinary. Earmarked at a young age as someone to watch out for, he has consistently shown that the early hype was well-founded.

Source - BCCI

In 2019, Gill made his international debut for India in an ODI series against New Zealand. His Test debut came soon after in Australia. He stamped his authority in glorious fashion with a crucial innings of 91 in the famous Brisbane Test which India won. This innings showcased his talent and composure under pressure.

Source - ESPNCricinfo

Gill's journey to the T20I side took a bit longer, as he made his debut in January 2023, four years after his international debut. Since then, he has made a significant impact across all formats. He is the fastest player to reach 2000 runs in ODIs and boasts the second-highest career batting average in ODIs at 61.37. Additionally, he became the fifth Indian player to score a double century in ODIs, joining the elite company of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, and Ishan Kishan.

Source - ESPNCricinfo

In T20Is, he holds the record for the highest score in an innings by an Indian, with an unbeaten 126 off 63 balls against New Zealand in 2023.

Source - BCCI

Gill's move to the Gujarat Titans in 2022 marked a turning point in his career. In his first season with the team, he scored 483 runs, demonstrating his ability to adapt and perform in different environments. The 2023 season saw him elevate his game to another level, scoring 890 runs - the second-highest tally in a single IPL season behind Virat Kohli's 973 runs in 2016. This remarkable season included three centuries, with one coming in the crucial Qualifier 2 against the Mumbai Indians, further cementing his reputation as a big-match player.

Source - IPLT20

Gill the batter has met the expectations set on him at an early age. It was now time for Gill the captain to be tested.

This happened ahead of IPL 2024, Gill was named the captain of the Gujarat Titans. He continued to shine in IPL 2024, scoring another century and amassing 426 runs throughout the season. This stint paved the way to being named the India captain for the Zimbabwe tour.

Source - IPLT20

The talk about him succeeding Rohit Sharma as captain in the future has grown louder and louder with Virender Sehwag saying “Shubman Gill lambi race ka ghoda hai (He’s one for the long haul).” He added “He plays all three formats, he had a brilliant last year. He was a bit unlucky to miss out on a spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad. But to me, this is the right decision. If tomorrow Rohit steps away from Tests and ODIs, then Shubman Gill will be his right replacement as captain. So the right captain has been picked keeping the future in mind,”

In April 2024, Michael Vaughan had predicted that Shubman Gill will lead India one day and his prediction has come true. Ravi Shastri was also impressed with the way Shubman Gill led the Titans, saying earlier “One aspect I want to touch on is Shubman Gill. He was calm. I thought he captained the side very well. He is new to the job but you know, he is adjusting extremely well, because he did not waste time with his placings. He had a plan in his mind from the outset, which was good to see.”

Shubman Gill's rise in international cricket is a story of talent, hard work, and perseverance. From his early days in the Under-19 World Cup to his record-breaking feats in international cricket and the IPL, he has shown that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level. His journey so far is just the beginning, and as he takes on more responsibilities, both as a player and a leader, the cricketing world eagerly watches to see what heights he will reach next.

Thumbnail Image Credits: BCCI and ESPNCricinfo