Three Big Problems in Indian Cricket Triggered By Shubman Gill's Captaincy Appointment and T20I Return

Given how things have unfolded in recent months, it’s clear that the major stakeholders in Indian cricket want Shubman Gill to be the next poster boy. Just a year ago, Shubman Gill struggled to find a place in India's T20I team and was also not a part of the T20 World Cup squad.

He was also struggling to cement his place in the Test team. Fast forward to now, the right-handed batsman has been appointed India's captain in Tests and ODIs. Speculations are rife that he is also likely to take charge of the T20I side after next year's T20 World Cup.

In September this year, he was recalled to the T20I team for the Asia Cup and is set to get a long rope to cement his place in the team. Unfortunately for Indian cricket, things have not gone well in recent times with Gill struggling to justify the backing he has received so far.

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Under his captaincy, India drew the Test series in England before losing the ODI series in Australia. India won the ODI series at home against South Africa but Gill was not a part of that squad due to injury. He has also struggled to do well with the bat in T20Is.

As Gill looks to steady himself, here are three clear issues that have surfaced in Indian cricket since he was made captain and brought back into the T20I setup.

1. Decision to sack Rohit Sharma as ODI captain backfires:

The selectors and the team-management's decision to sack Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain raised a number of eyebrows. After leading India to the 2023 World Cup final and the Champions Trophy glory earlier this year, the veteran batsman was replaced by Shubman Gill as the ODI captain.

The decision has not been backed by many as Rohit Sharma is still one of the best ODI batters in the world and there is absolutely no doubt that he is also one of the best leaders. In his first series as captain, Gill looked clueless as India were outplayed by Australia. The call to sack a celebrated captain like Rohit even though he is still an active cricketer certainly looks a poor one.

2. Settled opening pair in T20Is broken:

In order to make room for Shubman Gill in the T20I team, the team-management decided to break the settled opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Samson was demoted to the middle-order before being dropped altogether as the team-management has been preferring Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper-batsman.

Samson has been one of India's best T20I batters since the 2024 T20 World Cup. In 2024, he also hit three centuries in the shortest format of the game but is now warming the bench while Gill is struggling to justify his selection.

3. Batting lineup in Test team looks fragile:

As Shubman Gill took charge of the Test team, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the longest format of the game. Several reports have suggested that both the batters wanted to continue in Test but were asked by the selectors to bring down curtains on their career.

Soon after Rohit and Kohli announced their retirement, the selectors announced the squad for the England tour and Gill was named the captain. The departure of Rohit and Kohli has certainly made India's batting order fragile. While India managed to draw the series in England, they suffered a humiliating whitewash in the two-match series against South Africa at home.