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Virat Kohli Endorses Shubman Gill's Leadership Ahead of ODI Series

In a recent interview, Virat Kohli expressed his strong support for Shubman Gill as the captain of the Indian cricket team. Kohli praised Gill's innovative leadership style and strategic thinking, emphasizing his potential to lead the team effectively. As India prepares for its ODI series against the West Indies, Gill's journey as captain has already seen significant achievements. The upcoming matches will also mark the return of seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Kohli. With high expectations, the Indian team aims to bounce back from their previous series defeat. Read on to discover more about Gill's captaincy and the squad for the series.
By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 26, 2026, 13:41 IST

Kohli's Support for Gill as Captain

Virat Kohli, India's renowned cricketer, has expressed his confidence in Shubman Gill's capabilities as the captain of the ODI and Test teams. He believes that Gill possesses the right mindset, intensity, and ambition to guide the team effectively.


In an interview with JioStar prior to India's opening ODI against the West Indies, Kohli commended Gill's leadership style, emphasizing his innovative thinking and proactive decision-making on the field. Kohli remarked, "Shubman is still in the learning phase as a captain, but he has the right perspective and intensity needed to lead the Indian team. His strategic thinking about dismissing batters is indicative of his ability to stay ahead of the game. He is not hesitant to experiment with field placements, apply pressure, and communicate effectively with bowlers to optimize the bowling strategy."

Shubman Gill's Captaincy Milestones

Gill assumed the role of Test captain in 2025 and later took on the ODI captaincy as India prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup. At just 27 years old, he has already achieved significant victories in Test cricket, including a remarkable 336-run win against England at Edgbaston in 2025. He has demonstrated impressive form during his initial Test series as captain, accumulating over 3,000 runs across 67 ODIs and 43 Tests, with an ODI average exceeding 60.


Kohli, who captained the Indian men's cricket team from 2014 to 2022, praised Gill for his strategic clarity, stating, "He has a clear vision for how he wants us to operate on the field. With time and experience, he will continue to refine his decision-making skills, which is a natural progression for any leader."

Upcoming ODI Series Against West Indies

India's first ODI against the West Indies is scheduled to take place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. This series will also see the return of ODI veterans Rohit Sharma and Kohli to the national squad. Kohli has amassed 14,941 runs in 314 ODIs, boasting an impressive average of 58.59, with 54 centuries and 79 fifties to his name. The team aims to recover from their recent 1-2 ODI series loss to England in July.


India's ODI Squad for the West Indies Series

The Indian squad for the ODI series includes:



  • Shubman Gill (captain)


  • Rohit Sharma


  • Virat Kohli


  • Ruturaj Gaikwad


  • KL Rahul (vice-captain)


  • Dhruv Jurel


  • Nitish Kumar Reddy


  • Ravindra Jadeja


  • Kuldeep Yadav


  • Prasidh Krishna


  • Gurnoor Brar


  • Mohammed Siraj


  • Auqib Nabi


  • Yashasvi Jaiswal


  • Naman Dhir



The first ODI of the West Indies tour will commence at 2 PM IST on Sunday, and fans can catch the live broadcast on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.