Gujarat Titans COO Supports Shubman Gill's Captaincy Amid T20 Struggles
Backing Shubman Gill's Leadership
By Sahil Kohli
New Delhi [India] - Gujarat Titans' Chief Operating Officer, Colonel Arvinder Singh, has expressed his support for Indian cricketer Shubman Gill's role as captain in ODIs, suggesting that his recent struggles in T20Is are merely a temporary setback in his career.
Despite a strong start as Test captain, where he led the team to a 2-2 draw against England and scored 754 runs, including four centuries, Gill has faced challenges in white-ball formats.
During a recent event for the franchise's 'Junior Titans' program, Arvinder commented on Gill's captaincy, stating, 'It's premature to judge his capabilities as a captain. We must allow him more time. Just last year, he captained for the first time in England, and despite concerns about the team's strength, the series ended in a draw, largely due to his leadership.'
Arvinder praised Gill for balancing calmness and aggression as a captain, earning respect from both peers and senior players.
'A captain must earn the respect of their teammates, regardless of their experience. Gill has undoubtedly gained the admiration of his colleagues, and it's too soon to pass judgment on his performance,' he added.
In ODIs, Gill's team has faced defeats in both series against Australia and New Zealand, with the latter marking New Zealand's first ODI series victory in India. As a captain, Gill has scored 178 runs in six innings, averaging 29.66 with six fifties and a strike rate exceeding 91.
Since returning to T20Is as vice-captain, Gill has struggled, accumulating only 291 runs in 15 innings at an average below 25, without a fifty, and a strike rate around 137. His performance led to his exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad, with Ishan Kishan taking his place after a stellar domestic season.
However, Arvinder remains optimistic about Gill's potential for a comeback in the upcoming IPL season, noting his impressive performance last year as one of the top five run-scorers with 650 runs in 15 matches.
'He is more than capable of bouncing back. He has previously won the orange cap and had an outstanding season last year. Since joining our franchise, he has consistently scored over 400 runs each season. These fluctuations are part of a sportsman's journey,' he remarked.
Arvinder emphasized that Gill is mentally resilient and mature for his age, confident that he will respond to his critics with strong performances.
'Every player aspires to represent their country and excel, especially ahead of a World Cup. If he has been omitted, he must work harder to reclaim his spot, and I believe he will,' he stated.
Additionally, Arvinder discussed the team's fast bowling lineup, which has been strengthened by the addition of Ashok Sharma, the joint-highest wicket-taker in the recent SMAT, and English pacer Luke Wood. The Titans already boast a formidable bowling attack, including Ishant Sharma, last year's 'Purple Cap' winner Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Holder, and Gurnoor Brar.
'I have complete confidence in our fast bowling talent. The addition of Ashok and Wood only enhances our capabilities for the upcoming season,' he said.
The franchise has also retained New Zealand's Glenn Phillips, known for his dynamic play, despite missing last season due to injury. Arvinder believes Phillips could be a key player this season, depending on the captain and coach's decisions.
'We support our players, and IPL is a long tournament with 14 games. Glenn would have had his chance last season if not for injury. The final playing XI will depend on the coaching staff's assessment of the best team composition,' he concluded.