Shastri Backs Gill for Test Stardom, Predicts 'Disappointment' If Potential Unfulfilled

India's Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy during a nets session at Headingly, Leeds, England, Wednesday June 18, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has voiced a strong prediction regarding the future of India's new Test captain, Shubman Gill. Shastri anticipates significant progress for Gill in the coming years, expressing that he would be surprised if the young captain doesn't achieve great heights.

"I’ll be disappointed if Gill doesn’t go places," Shastri told Wisden, highlighting Gill's batting elegance. "Languid, lazy elegance, and he’s got a regal element of being regal out there when he’s batting."

Shastri emphasized the importance of adaptability for Gill: "If he can learn with exposure and adapt to conditions, I think that’s the one name I can see."

He also noted Gill's maturity: "He’s matured a lot. The way he handles the media, the way he talks at press conferences, at tosses—he’s matured a lot."

Shastri advised patience and consistent support for the young captain: "Let him be there for three years. Don’t chop and change irrespective of what happens in the series. Stick with him for three years, and I think he will deliver for you."

Gill's captaincy debut saw him score a remarkable century in Headingley. This achievement places him among an elite group of Indian cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli, who have also scored a century on their Test captaincy debut.

Gill is also noted as the 23rd player overall to score a century in their debut innings as captain, and ranks as the fourth-youngest to achieve this feat, following Herbie Taylor, Alastair Cook, and Steven Smith.

India’s right-arm seamer Prasidh Krishna has also commented on Shubman Gill's captaincy, praising the "very good atmosphere" that the young captain has cultivated within the team's dressing room.

“I think he did a pretty good job. All of us saw how he rotated the bowlers, made sure everybody had enough breaks, brought in people at the right times, and saw opportunities to bring in the right kind of bowlers. All of that was great, and knowing him, he set a very good atmosphere around. He’s been speaking to all of us. We always go in with a plan, and the communication is happening there.”