As Rohit Sharma, the ‘Hitman,’ with his audacious strokeplay and aggressive captaincy, nearly brought the 2023 ODI World Cup home, inches closer to the twilight of his career, only one question rings out among Indian fans: Who will claim the captaincy?
Having to match up to the likes of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Kapil Dev, whoever is passed the baton of captaincy will have a monumental task ahead of them. As of now, there are clear candidates for who Rohit’s successor will be. Today, I want to look beyond them and at the potential leaders of the next generation of Indian cricket. In a cricketing world dominated by the legends and stories of current greats, there lies the anticipation of passing on the captaincy to future generations.
Shubman Gill
A prodigious talent, hailed as the prince of cricket, Shubman Gill has had a year to remember. A batsman who loves his proper cricketing strokes (a trait you would be hard-pressed to find in most youngsters), paired with technique that would bring a tear to any coach’s eye, Shubman is the man to beat. From winning the Orange Cap in IPL 2023 to finishing the year with 7 international centuries and 10 fifties, his form has been nothing short of outstanding. Touted as the next Virat Kohli, all eyes have been on him since he made his international debut 3 years ago. In addition, his leadership experience as the vice-captain of the 2018 U19 World Cup gives him the edge over his competitors.
Recently, Hardik Pandya made national news when he decided to leave Gujarat Titans, whom he had captained to their maiden title in 2022, back to Mumbai Indians. In place of him, the franchise announced Gill as their captain. If he can capitalize and bring the Titans to their next titles, the search for India’s future captain may be one that ends before it begins.
Next up, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
From sleeping in tents at age 12, selling pani puri to earn pocket money, to becoming one of India’s most promising youngsters, Yashasvi Jaiswal has come an extremely long way. During his U-19 World Cup campaign, he earned himself the Player of the Tournament with 400 runs across just 6 matches. Making headlines for his incredible IPL season, the Indian selectors quickly gave Jaiswal a spot as an opener in the tours that followed. After a stunning 171 on Test debut against the West Indies, and his successful T20I campaigns, his explosive and fearless nature has all but ensured his place as an opener for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
However, while his fiery strokeplay has produced many memorable innings’, it has also led to a few instances of him cheaply throwing his wicket away. In addition, his on-field decisions sometimes reflect a degree of selfishness. There have been instances where he has been caught ball-watching instead of trusting his partner’s calls, resulting in their run-out dismissals. If he can learn to control his temperament and adapt his playing style to the pitch, he could develop into a potential candidate for the captaincy of the Indian team.
Finally, Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad is a player who went under the radar until his incredible season with the Chennai Super Kings in 2021, where he scored 635 runs. The Indian selectors, upon seeing his phenomenal performance, were quick to thrust him into the T20I series against Sri Lanka in which he failed to make a big impact, scoring only 21 and 14. However, in recent times he has finally begun to show his true capabilities, such as during the Australia v India tour just after the World Cup in which he scored an unbeaten 123 off 57 deliveries. Unfortunately, Gaikwad’s inconsistency, paired with the fact that India has no shortage of opening batsmen, means that he has yet to make a proper name for himself in the team.
As we explore the potential leaders for the future of Indian cricket, it becomes increasingly evident that Shubman Gill stands head and shoulders above the rest. His sublime strokes and impressively mature attitude with the bat distinguish him as a clear front-runner for future captain. Setting aside his prowess with the bat, the recent announcement of Gill becoming captain of the Gujarat Titans is a testament to the faith that team managements are willing to place in his leadership skills. If this faith is not misguided, (which I have no doubts it isn’t), there is no other choice for the future of Indian cricket.