Shubman Gill has been given the big opportunity to captain the team in the upcoming ODI series against Australia. He will be playing alongside two big names, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
But former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has advised Gill not to overthink managing these senior players.
Parthiv’s advice: No need to understand seniors
Parthiv clearly told Gill that players like Rohit and Kohli already understand captaincy and the senior-junior relationship well.
He told PTI, “I don’t think it’s going to be any issue looking at the kind of personalities Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have. Just look at Virat; he became captain when MS Dhoni was still playing. He knows what it takes for a senior player to groom a new captain.”
Parthiv believes that both Kohli and Rohit have seen such situations before, so Gill will have no problem working with them.
He further said, “When Rohit became captain, it was the same situation. Yes, Virat wasn’t his senior, but still a former captain. Obviously, they’ve been through that phase and understand the decision-making that is good for Indian cricket.
Both always come across as mature. I don’t think Shubman needs to spend his energy managing those senior players.”
Parthiv also said that Gill should simply focus on his captaincy and the game.
Importance of Domestic Cricket
Parthiv also stressed that players like Kohli and Rohit should play domestic cricket, such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He said, “I’m pretty sure they should play the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It’s not about setting an example that ‘we’ve got Kohli and Rohit playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy.’
I don’t want to think that way. Playing the Hazare Trophy will help their own game, and in turn, it will help the Indian cricket team.”
He believes that playing domestic tournaments will maintain these players’ form, which will be beneficial for the Indian team.
Currently, all eyes will be on Gill’s captaincy and the form of Kohli and Rohit in the series against Australia. This series will be a big test not only for Gill but for the entire team.
During this period, Gill has the opportunity to showcase his leadership skills and, along with the seniors, lead the team to victory.
