Dinesh Karthik, the former India wicketkeeper and now a respected voice in the cricketing world, recently shared a candid conversation he had with Virat Kohli — one that reminded him of a young Shubman Gill. Drawing a thoughtful parallel between the two, Karthik reflected on how both men view captaincy not just as a role, but as a defining force in their cricketing journey.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Podcast, Karthik revealed that Kohli spoke passionately about the pride and purpose he derived from captaining India in Test cricket — even more than from his legendary run-making feats. According to Kohli, leading the country in whites was the most fulfilling chapter of his career.
“I met Virat recently and we spoke about captaincy,” Dinesh Karthik recalled. “He told me, ‘People think of me as a great Test batter, but being captain — that was the most special thing for me.’ Interestingly, Shubman Gill echoed the exact same sentiment not too long ago.”
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Following Rohit Sharma and Kohli’s retirement from Tests, Gill has taken charge of the Indian Test side during the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. And if his performances so far are anything to go by, Gill is embracing the leadership mantle with maturity well beyond his years.
Dinesh Karthik revealed how captaincy has already begun to reshape Gill’s mindset. “He told me, ‘Earlier, I used to think as a batter — how I want to play. Now I think like a captain — what my team needs from me at any point,’” Karthik shared. “That shift is huge. When someone that young is already thinking like that, it tells you everything about their ambition and maturity.”
Dinesh Karthik: I met Virat Kohli a few days ago — he said, ‘Getting Test captaincy was the best thing to happen to my batting.’ pic.twitter.com/8P5sOO0qrn
— Gaurav (@Melbourne__82) July 8, 2025
Gill has indeed led by example. After two gripping Tests in England, he stands as the leading run-getter of the series with a staggering 585 runs at an average of 146.25, including two centuries and a double hundred. His sensational knocks of 269 and 161 at Edgbaston powered India to a historic 336-run win, leveling the series 1-1.
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Dinesh Karthik concluded with high praise: “Shubman has the skill, the temperament, and now the mindset. He’s not just playing for India — he’s shaping the future of Indian Test cricket. The world should take notice.”
With the third Test at Lord’s around the corner, all eyes will be on Gill once again — not just as India’s batting mainstay, but as a captain forging a legacy of his own.
