‘Shubman Gill is the perfect candidate for Test captaincy’, Shikhar Dhawan openly supports the right-handed batsman

Shubman Gill is all set to make his captaincy debut in Test cricket, starting with the upcoming series against England. This significant development comes after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket, opening the doors for the next generation of Indian cricketers to take on leadership roles. The responsibility of leading the Indian Test team has now been handed over to the young and talented Shubman Gill, who has been showing consistent performances both domestically and internationally. Gill’s elevation to captain has been met with support and praise from several veteran cricketers, who believe he is the right man for the job. Among those expressing their faith in Gill is experienced opener Shikhar Dhawan, who has shared his thoughts on the new leadership in Indian cricket.

Dhawan, known for his calm demeanor and sharp cricketing mind, stated that Gill is a “perfect candidate” for Test captaincy. He emphasized that Shubman has not only shown exceptional skill in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but also has a solid track record while playing for the Indian national team. According to Dhawan, Gill has matured over the years and possesses the leadership qualities needed to guide the Indian Test side. “I think this is a good choice. Shubman Gill has performed well in the recent IPL. He is talented and has matured. He has been playing for the Indian team for many years. According to me, he is the perfect candidate to take over the Test captaincy. I am sure he will handle it well and lead the team,” Dhawan said. He added that this is the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket, referring to the young generation as "Gen Z," and expressed confidence that Gill will take the team forward with energy and determination. “My best wishes to him,” Dhawan concluded.

While Dhawan praised Gill’s appointment as Test captain, he also shared his views on the ongoing IPL 2025 season. He expressed excitement about the tournament, describing it as very entertaining and full of surprises. In particular, he voiced his support for the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), stating that they are his pick to win the final. Dhawan said that MI has played excellent cricket this season and has built strong momentum heading into the final stages of the competition. “My support for the final will be with Mumbai Indians. MI is playing really well. The way they have gained momentum is fantastic. They are a strong and balanced team. Therefore, I am with Mumbai Indians,” he said.

Mumbai Indians have certainly lived up to expectations this season, reaching Qualifier-2 by defeating Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator. The Titans, led by none other than Shubman Gill, had a disappointing run in the knockout stage, bowing out after a tough loss to MI. Now, Mumbai Indians will face Punjab Kings in Qualifier-2 on June 2, and the winner will earn a place in the IPL 2025 final. The Punjab Kings have been in good form, but they face a strong challenge in the form of an in-form MI side. Shreyas Iyer’s team, which lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier-1, now has a second chance to reach the final. They will be eager to make the most of this opportunity and aim for their first-ever IPL title.

As the cricket world watches these thrilling developments in both Test cricket and the IPL, fans are excited about the future of Indian cricket. With young leaders like Shubman Gill taking charge in Tests and intense battles unfolding in the IPL, this is truly an exciting time for Indian cricket lovers. All eyes will be on Gill as he begins a new chapter in his career — not just as a top-order batsman, but as the captain of the Indian Test team.