Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has shared his insights on Shubman Gill’s upcoming captaincy role for India’s One-Day International series in Australia. Gill is set to receive crucial support from seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as he takes on this significant leadership challenge.
Following India’s dominant 2-0 Test series victory against West Indies, Bishop expressed strong confidence in Gill’s innate leadership qualities. However, he also emphasized that the young captain will need time to mature into the role.
The 24-year-old Indian opener is stepping up to lead the national team in Australia, marking his first major captaincy assignment. Bishop remarked, “Gill will be fine. Those two guys will help him along the way. He will grow in the job.”
He continued, “Gill is nowhere near the finished article. People have to give him that chance to grow as a captain, and as a batsman, he will grow as well.” This highlights the importance of patience and developmental opportunities for the rising star.
Bishop further elaborated on how the vast experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be invaluable to Gill, particularly in navigating leadership responsibilities and managing the intense pressure that comes with international captaincy. “He has the temperament and the skill to lead, but the growth in captaincy and tactics is something that will take a couple of seasons to grow into. I’m sure he’ll get help from the two veterans,” Bishop added.
When asked about Rohit and Kohli’s potential involvement in the 2027 World Cup, Bishop indicated that their participation would ultimately depend on their personal decisions and ongoing form. “That’s their decision. I can’t answer that for Rohit or for Virat or for the BCCI. It depends on what their determination and skill is like. They’ve been fine so far,” he stated.
India showcased their superior performance by securing a convincing Test series win at home against the West Indies. Bishop observed positive advancements within the West Indies team, particularly praising the improved batting and bowling efforts from several players. “From a West Indian perspective, it was great to see a few of the batters spending time at the crease. The trust they showed in the pitch was excellent,” he commented.
He concluded, “It’s not that they’ve arrived, but they’ve put some building blocks in place.”