As the year 2025 drew to a close, Indian cricket's young leader, Shubman Gill, took to social media to share a poignant reflection on a period packed with extreme highs and profound lessons. The newly appointed captain of India's Test and One-Day International teams posted a video montage, offering fans an intimate glimpse into a season that tested his mettle and ultimately forged a more resilient leader.
A Tale of Two Formats: T20I Struggles and Red-Ball Supremacy
The year presented a stark contrast in fortunes for the 26-year-old batter across different formats. In a significant personal setback, Gill was dropped from India's T20 International setup, a format where he had even served as vice-captain earlier. A series of modest performances culminated in his omission from the squad for the home T20 World Cup. His T20I returns for the year stood at 291 runs from 15 innings at an average of just over 24, without a single half-century.
However, this disappointment was spectacularly offset by his monumental achievements in Test cricket. Gill's tour of England will be remembered as one of the most commanding overseas batting displays by an Indian. He amassed a colossal 754 runs in just five Test matches at a staggering average of 75.40. This remarkable feat included four centuries, with a career-best knock of 269. Overall, in 2025, Gill finished with 983 runs in nine Tests at an average of 70.21, including five hundreds.
Leadership and ODI Consistency
The year gained further significance with Gill's elevation to the captaincy of the Test and ODI teams. Under his new leadership, India staged a memorable fightback in England to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw in the Test series. In the 50-over format, Gill continued to be a pillar of consistency, scoring 490 runs in 11 ODIs at an average of 49.00, which included two centuries and two fifties.
His leadership and batting played a crucial role in India's triumphant campaign at the ICC Champions Trophy. Gill contributed 188 runs in the tournament, a tally highlighted by a vital century against Bangladesh that helped steer the team towards the title.
Carrying Lessons Forward into 2026
In his reflective social media post, Gill captured the essence of his tumultuous year. "2025, you were truly special to me. So many lessons, experiences, and memories to be grateful for. Carrying it all forward into 2026," he wrote. The statement underscores a year of sharp personal and professional growth, where the sting of a T20 World Cup snub was balanced by historic Test performances and the ultimate honour of national captaincy.
Gill's 2025 journey exemplifies the unpredictable nature of elite sport, where resilience in the face of adversity can pave the way for historic achievement. As he steps into 2026, the cricketing world watches with anticipation to see how the lessons from this transformative year will shape his future as India's captain and premier batter.
