Harbhajan Singh Supports Shubman Gill's Appointment as ODI Captain
Harbhajan Singh Endorses Shubman Gill's Captaincy
Dubai [UAE], January 5: Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has expressed his support for Shubman Gill's new role as the ODI captain, stating that the young player appears "prepared for significant challenges." He also mentioned that Gill is likely to receive more opportunities in the T20I format after being overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad following a brief period as vice-captain.
Shubman, who faced a setback in his first ODI series as captain against Australia away from home, is now preparing for his inaugural home ODI series against New Zealand, which kicks off on January 11. Despite a commendable 2-2 draw against England in the UK and his impressive tally of 754 runs, including four centuries, during his short tenure as Test captain, he has yet to leave a mark as both a batsman and a leader in ODIs.
In the T20I arena, his performance has not met expectations since returning as vice-captain at the Asia Cup, where he managed only 291 runs in 15 innings without scoring a fifty.
Discussing Gill's return to ODIs after recovering from a neck injury sustained during the South Africa Tests and his exclusion from the T20 World Cup, Harbhajan remarked, "Gill was destined to return. I had no doubts about his comeback. His omission was purely due to the T20 format and the combination Team India sought. I always believed he would be part of the ODI or Test squad. Now, as captain, I hope the team performs well and secures victory in this series."
He praised the T20 World Cup squad selected by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, calling it a "10/10 team" and expressed sympathy for Gill but assured that he would soon have more opportunities.
"The team is exceptional. I believe Ajit deserves a perfect score for the selection. While I felt a bit disappointed for Shubman, he will have more chances ahead. Each player is a match-winner in their own right. I hope we can clinch back-to-back World Cups with this team," he stated.
On the rationale behind appointing Gill as ODI captain, Harbhajan explained that the decision was made with future prospects in mind, asserting that Gill is ready for the role. "This decision seems to be forward-thinking. While it may appear rushed, I believe he is equipped for this demanding position. The sooner he masters captaincy and team management, the better the outcomes will be. His performance in the England Test series was remarkable, showcasing his hard work and leadership capabilities. I am confident he is ready for significant challenges," he added.
Harbhajan also commended India's "match-winning" spin trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav selected for the T20 World Cup. "Spin bowling is a strong suit for India. Kuldeep, Varun, and Axar can turn the game around in a single spell. Opponents are still struggling to read Varun, and Kuldeep possesses great variation. This spin combination is promising, and I hope they remain injury-free to serve India for a long time," he noted.
He further backed skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has struggled with form, scoring only 218 runs in 19 innings last year at an average of 13.62 without a fifty, emphasizing the need for him to perform well in crucial T20 World Cup matches. "Suryakumar may not have scored many runs recently, but when the World Cup arrives, we will need our star players to excel. He will shine in those critical matches. Abhishek (Sharma) has the potential to win matches single-handedly. Hardik (Pandya) is in great form and is a key player. We also have Arshdeep (Singh) and (Jasprit) Bumrah in the pace department," he concluded.