Rishi Dhawan Envisions Shubman Gill as Future Captain for 2027 ODI World Cup

Rishi Dhawan's Support for Shubman Gill

Dubai [UAE], October 8: Former Indian fast bowler Rishi Dhawan has expressed confidence in Shubman Gill's potential to evolve into a formidable leader, suggesting he could captain India in the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. Dhawan also hopes to see seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli participating in the prestigious tournament.

Shubman Gill took over as India’s Test captain in May 2025 following Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket, and he was appointed as the ODI captain in October 2025.

To date, Gill has led India in 15 ODIs and 11 Tests. Under his captaincy in ODIs, the team has achieved eight victories and faced seven defeats, with significant series wins against Afghanistan and the West Indies.

His captaincy in ODIs has also been marked by a remarkable individual achievement. In the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati, Gill scored an impressive 223 runs off 133 balls, leading India to their highest successful ODI chase of 406 runs.

In the Test arena, Gill has guided India to six wins, three losses, and two draws across 11 matches. Notably, he led the team to a challenging series draw (2-2) against England in 2025 and secured a home series victory over the West Indies. His highest score as Test captain is 269, achieved against England in the second Test last year.

In a conversation with a news outlet, Dhawan praised Gill for managing the dual roles of captaincy and batting effectively.

“Absolutely. In every series he has captained, he has performed admirably. It’s common for players to struggle with their batting when they take on captaincy, but he has balanced both roles exceptionally well, consistently delivering outstanding performances,” Dhawan remarked.

Dhawan believes that Gill has demonstrated considerable growth as a leader and will be well-equipped to lead India in the upcoming World Cup.

“I am confident he will captain the team effectively by 2027. With Rohit and Virat providing support and guidance, I foresee no issues at all,” he added.

The former cricketer also endorsed the ongoing involvement of Rohit and Kohli in India's ODI squad, emphasizing their fitness, current form, and extensive experience as crucial assets leading up to the 2027 World Cup.

“Definitely, they should continue. Their fitness and performance for the Indian team are commendable, and their wealth of experience is invaluable. They should play and help us secure the World Cup,” he concluded.