Shubman Gill opens up about being named India's vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is

Shubman Gill, recently appointed as India’s vice-captain for the white-ball formats, expressed his admiration for new head coach Gautam Gambhir, highlighting his clarity of thought and vision for the team. As Gill embarks on his journey as vice-captain, he hopes to establish himself as a key player across all formats.

During India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, he will serve as deputy to Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is and to Rohit Sharma in ODIs. This series marks Gambhir’s debut as head coach, following his replacement of Rahul Dravid after India’s T20 World Cup triumph in America last month.

Shubman Gill’s aspirations and new partnerships

Shubman Gill is determined to become an all-format batsman for India, aiming to make significant contributions in different conditions. Although he was a travelling reserve during the T20 World Cup, Gill did not make it into the final 15-man squad. This exclusion has motivated him to refine his game further. Looking ahead, Gill has his sights set on the five-match Test series in Australia later this year and the subsequent Champions Trophy. He believes his experience and skills can be valuable assets in these prestigious tournaments.

In T20Is, Gill will team up with Yashasvi Jaiswal as his new opening partner following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format. The right-handed batsman expressed confidence in their partnership, emphasizing their complementary playing styles.

“We really enjoy batting with each other, especially the kind of shots that we both play, we complement each other. And being the right-left combination…our partnership has been good in the matches we have played together. I think we have two 150-run partnerships. We have a very good understanding and communication between us, and that’s very enjoyable,” Gill explained.

“We are the world champions and we will look to play accordingly, and, hopefully, we will have more success under the new coaching staff. This is the first time I am working with him (Gambhir),” Gill told the media during a press-meet at Pallekele, Sri Lanka.

“But during those two net sessions, his intent and communication have been very clear. He is very clear about which player he wants to work with at a particular time and on which areas he wants to work with him,” he added.

“During the matches before the T20 World Cup, I could not perform to the level that I was expecting from myself.

“In the upcoming cycle where we will play 30-40 T20Is, I will try to improve my performance as a batsman,” he said.

Praise for Gautam Gambhir and coaching staff

Gill lauded Gautam Gambhir for his strategic approach and clear vision, which resonates well with the team’s goals. He noted that Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav share a similar mindset regarding team strategy and player development. Gill believes this alignment will be beneficial as India aims for success in the upcoming series.

Additionally, Gill praised Abhishek Nayar, the newly appointed assistant coach, with whom he had previously worked during his tenure at the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Gill expressed confidence in Nayar’s coaching abilities and looked forward to benefiting from his guidance and expertise.

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“He (Nayar) puts in a lot of effort on the ground. He stays with the players until they are satisfied with their own skills. It’s his biggest plus point,” he added.

As the Indian team prepares for the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Gill’s leadership role and growing partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal promise to bring a fresh dynamic to the squad. With new coaching strategies and emerging talent, India aims to continue its success on the international stage.