Veteran Indian spinner Amit Mishra raised eyebrows with his criticism of the BCCI’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as captain for the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe. Mishra’s primary concern stemmed from Gill’s performance at the helm of the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024. The Titans finished a disappointing eighth, and according to Mishra, Gill exhibited a lack of leadership qualities during that time.
“I wouldn’t have made him the captain,” Amith Mishra stated on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast. “You saw the IPL this season, Gill doesn’t know how to captain the side, he is clueless. Just because he is a part of the Indian team, he shouldn’t be made the captain.”
While acknowledging Gill’s batting prowess and contributions to the Indian team, Mishra questioned the rationale behind his captaincy appointment. He believes the decision was made to provide Gill with leadership experience, but argues there were more suitable candidates available.
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“Gill has done well in the IPL over the last few seasons, he did fine in the Indian team as well. The Indian team made him the captain as they want to give him the leadership experience, which wasn’t visible when he led Gujarat Titans in IPL,” Amit Mishra elaborated.
Mishra went a step further, proposing Ruturaj Gaikwad as a superior alternative. He praised Gaikwad’s ability to perform consistently across all three formats (T20I, ODI, and Test). Interestingly, Mishra suggested that Gaikwad’s lack of a strong manager might be hindering his opportunities with the national team.
“I am not a Shubman Gill hater, I also like him,” Mishra clarified. “But, I feel Ruturaj is a better option because he has scored runs in tougher situations, be it for Chennai Super Kings or during the Asian Games. He is a good option, should be kept with the team, the way Yashasvi Jaiswal was with the Indian side at the T20 World Cup. He is someone who can deliver in T20Is, ODIs and Tests. The most important thing is, who brings calmness to the team? He doesn’t play risky shots much. He should hire a good manager,” Amith Mishra concluded.
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Mishra’s comments spark a conversation about leadership development within the Indian cricket team. While Gill may be a talented young player, his captaincy experience, or lack thereof, has ignited debate. Mishra’s championing of Gaikwad presents an interesting alternative, highlighting the importance of both on-field performance and strong leadership qualities when selecting a captain.
