Ajinkya Rahane Commends Shubman Gill's Leadership Evolution Ahead of ICC World Cup

As Team India prepares for significant challenges in the cricketing calendar, Ajinkya Rahane praises Shubman Gill's impressive growth as a leader. With the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 on the horizon, Gill's confidence and performance are under the spotlight. Rahane commends Gill's ability to manage players effectively and make strategic decisions. Following a recent victory against New Zealand, India looks ahead to more matches that will be crucial for their standings in the World Test Championship. Discover more about Gill's leadership journey and India's upcoming schedule.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 4, 2026, 16:28 IST

Ajinkya Rahane Commends Shubman Gill's Leadership Evolution

As Team India gears up for significant challenges in Tests and ODIs, including upcoming matches against New Zealand and Australia, all eyes are on Shubman Gill. He is set to captain the national squad for his inaugural ICC tournament next year. Since taking over the captaincy in England last year, Gill has shown remarkable growth. Ajinkya Rahane, a former Test captain and now part of the expert panel on a prominent sports network during India's New Zealand tour, has expressed admiration for Gill's development as a leader. Rahane noted that Gill's current form, especially in ODIs where he ranks as the top batter, has instilled confidence in him as he leads the team.

Rahane emphasized that Gill's confidence and positive attitude, stemming from his performance, are evident in his leadership style.

Rahane's Insights on Gill's Progress

"Shubman's batting has been exceptional, and his statistics reflect that. What stands out to me is his confidence on the field," Rahane shared on his YouTube channel. "His demeanor, attitude, and intent are crucial. While form can vary, Shubman consistently displays confidence and has been scoring runs. Importantly, he is evolving as a captain with each series, managing players maturely, rotating bowlers effectively, and making timely decisions. These are promising signs of his growth as a leader," he added.

India's Upcoming Matches and Recent Win

Following their victory in the first ODI, where India triumphed by five wickets, the team will face New Zealand in four additional ODIs before entering a two-match Test series. This series is vital for Gill and the team in terms of World Test Championship points. After the New Zealand tour, India will return home for white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, culminating in the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

In the first ODI, Virat Kohli's impressive 74 runs off 51 balls, combined with a stellar bowling display led by Arshdeep Singh's four wickets, secured a five-wicket win for India in the rain-affected match in Auckland. Arshdeep, along with Gurnoor Brar (3/44) and Anshul Kamboj (2/22), limited New Zealand to 185 runs, while Kohli and Shubman Gill (56) successfully chased down the revised target of 143 runs in 32 overs.