Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has come out with a strong defence of Shubman Gill's leadership, urging critics to be patient and give the young batsman time to prove himself. Ganguly's comments come amid scrutiny of Gill's early results as skipper.
Ganguly's Unwavering Faith in Gill's Leadership
In a recent podcast conversation with renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle for Bandhan Bank, Ganguly made a bold statement about the 26-year-old's capabilities. "He should be captain of everything, he's that good," Ganguly asserted when asked if Gill should lead the T20I side.
The former BCCI chief expressed his frustration with the rapid shift in public opinion. He recalled that just three months ago, during India's tour of England, the same people were praising Gill for his batting and captaincy while leading a team without stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
A Plea for Patience and Perspective
Ganguly emphasized that leading the national team across all three formats is a challenging task that requires time to master. "It's not rocket science," he stated, pointing out that decision-makers themselves face daily scrutiny and second-guessing.
He directly addressed the impatience shown by some sections of fans and media. "And now, in just three months, you're questioning him again? That's the mindset of people," Ganguly added, highlighting the fickle nature of public judgment in cricket-crazy India.
Gill's Captaincy Record and Current Role
Shubman Gill's journey as captain began in earnest during the England tour, where he succeeded Rohit Sharma in Tests after the latter's retirement from the longest format. He then took over the ODI captaincy in Australia.
However, a neck injury subsequently ruled him out of the Test and ODI series against South Africa. In his three months at the helm so far, Gill has led India to four wins in eight Test matches. In ODIs, he has managed one victory in three games, all against a strong Australian side. The Indian T20I team is currently being led by Suryakumar Yadav.
Ganguly's core message was one of support and patience. He believes that with time, Shubman Gill will grow into the role and silence his critics, just as many great captains have done before him.
