Shubman Gill Reveals How He Balances Captaincy and Batting: Kolkata, Nov 13: As India’s youngest all-format captain and one of the busiest cricketers in the world today.
Shubman Gill is learning to strike the perfect balance between the dual responsibilities of leadership and run-scoring.
Ahead of the first Test against South Africa, the 26-year-old opened up on how he separates the pressure of captaincy from the craft of batting.
Gill, who took over the reins from Rohit Sharma, has already impressed as a leader. Under his captaincy, India fought back to level the five-match Test series against England 2-2.
But with constant cricket across formats and continents, Gill admits the path has been mentally and physically demanding.
“When I’m Batting, I Think Only as a Batsman” — Gill’s Simple Yet Powerful Approach
Speaking ahead of the South Africa Test, Gill explained his formula for maintaining consistency as both batter and captain: block out one while doing the other.
“In my preparation, I mainly focus on how I can succeed as a batsman. On the field, I like my instincts to take over while captaining,” Gill said.
“It’s a conscious effort that when I’m batting, I think only as a batsman — not as a captain. If you overthink as a captain, you put too much pressure on yourself and avoid taking small risks that give you the x-factor. That’s how I balance my captaincy and batting.”
His mindset appears to be working. Gill produced a historic Test series against England, amassing 754 runs in 10 innings, including three centuries and a double hundred.
This is the second-highest score by an Indian in a single Test series, behind only Sunil Gavaskar’s legendary 774-run effort in 1971.
He also became the third Indian after Gavaskar and Yashasvi Jaiswal to cross 700+ runs in a home Test series.
Relentless Cricket and Switching Formats: “It’s Mentally More Challenging”
Gill’s rise as captain has coincided with a hectic international schedule. After the demanding England series came:
- Asia Cup T20Is
- Home Tests against West Indies
- ODI and T20I assignments in Australia
All within months.
He admits switching formats within a three–four day gap is one of the toughest challenges for players.
“It’s mentally more challenging. The time difference in Australia affects your body, and Test cricket in India brings a different set of challenges. It is definitely mentally and physically demanding.”
However, Gill embraces these pressures as part of a professional athlete’s journey.
“As a professional cricketer, you know these challenges will come your way. The way you tackle them defines your greatness.”
White-Ball Struggles Continue—But Gill Remains Focused
While Gill’s Test form has been sensational, his recent white-ball numbers have raised questions. He has gone eight innings across ODIs and T20Is without a fifty.
But Gill has displayed remarkable maturity, choosing to treat this phase as part of the learning curve rather than a setback.
Big Captaincy Lesson: Gill Reflects on Follow-On Error vs West Indies
Gill also shared one of his earliest and biggest learnings as captain — enforcing the follow-on against West Indies earlier this year, a decision he now regrets.
“After bowling 80-90 overs, enforcing the follow-on made it tough for the bowlers. The wicket got slower, and spinners lost their zip. We ended up fielding 200 overs at one stretch.”
With clarity, he admitted:
“Maybe after 90 overs, we should have batted first and given the follow-on later.”
These candid admissions underline Gill’s growth mindset — a crucial trait for a long-term leader.
A Young Leader Finding His Own Way
At 26, Shubman Gill is navigating one of the most demanding roles in world cricket. Between scoring big runs and making tactical calls, he is carving out his leadership identity — one decision, one innings, and one lesson at a time.
As India begins its South Africa assignment, fans will be hoping this fearless young captain continues blending instinct with intelligence, and talent with temperament, to shape India’s future across formats.
Also Read: Big Decision Before India vs South Africa Test Series—Nitish Kumar Reddy Released from Team