When India’s Test series against England begins on Friday, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill and how he performs. At just 25 years old, Gill finds himself in the high-pressure role of India’s Test captain — a position rarely held by someone so young in Indian cricket history. His predecessors include some of the game’s greats like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly.
Shubman Gill also captains the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, where he shares the dressing room with England star Jos Buttler. In a recent podcast, legendary English pacer Stuart Broad offered insights into Shubman Gill leadership style and how he handles the responsibilities of captaincy.
Shubman Gill Faces Monumental Task as India’s Youngest Test Captain
Jos Buttler compared the role of India’s Test captain to being among the country’s most powerful figures, saying, “I think they say the Indian Test captain is like the third or fourth-most influential person in India, behind the Prime Minister.” He added, “We can’t quite understand the level of interest and stardom these players deal with. You see glimpses of it during the IPL, but living it is another experience entirely.”
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli recently retiring from Test cricket, Buttler acknowledged the massive expectations now resting on the shoulders of Shubman Gill. “There are one-and-a-half billion people, all cricket-mad, so it’s a huge job for him. Kohli is the king, Shubman is the prince—that’s the narrative they spin, and I feel he’s the next big thing,” Buttler remarked.
Shubman Gill, now India’s youngest red-ball captain, has spoken about his approach to balancing roles, emphasizing the importance of separating his captaincy from his batting responsibilities. “When he’s batting, he just wants to be a batter,” said Buttler.
As Shubman Gill prepares for his first assignment—leading India in a five-Test series against England starting June 20 at Headingley—he not only carries leadership pressure but also the weight of the prestigious number four spot. The same position has previously been occupied by cricketing legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
“He’s stepping into some really big shoes,” Buttler said. “Having captained two IPL seasons under immense pressure, he’s ready in some ways, but this is a different kind of challenge.”
