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Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim shared insights into Shubman Gill’s new role as vice-captain of Team India in white-ball cricket. According to Karim, Gill’s appointment underscores his exceptional batting prowess and presents a significant opportunity for his development.
Shubman Gill’s promotion to vice-captaincy in India’s white-ball squad has sparked widespread discussion in Indian cricket circles. The decision, announced alongside the team selection for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka, highlights Gill’s burgeoning leadership potential.
Gill had previously captained the team during the recent Zimbabwe tour, where he showcased impressive leadership qualities. Under his captaincy, India secured a commanding 4-1 series victory, with Gill himself emerging as the top run-scorer, leading by example on the field.
The decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain came as a surprise, especially since he was chosen ahead of KL Rahul for ODIs and Hardik Pandya for T20Is, which raised eyebrows. Adding to this, Gill recently captained Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 and his performance impressed selectors.
Saba Karim discussed Gill’s appointment as vice-captain, mentioning that a positive report by VVS Laxman during the Zimbabwe tour likely influenced the decision. Karim believes this new responsibility will greatly benefit Gill’s growth as a cricketer. Speaking to News 24,
“Shubman Gill has been elevated because of his leadership skills. He captained the team and India made a comeback in the Zimbabwe series. The team’s report by VVS Laxman, the head coach, has influenced him a lot.
“I think this will be a big learning for Shubhman Gill. It seems that the selectors are thinking that if he continues to perform like this, he can be elevated as the captain.”
Saba Karim also weighed in on Sanju Samson’s omission from the ODIs, suggesting that his path back into the team could be challenging, particularly with the presence of Rishabh Pant. Expanding on this viewpoint,
“I think it will be difficult for Sanju Samson to be in the one-day set-up. We are seeing many new faces. There are fewer slots, especially after Rishabh Pant’s return. If you look at his record, he (Pant) was excellent in one-day cricket.
“He wasn’t as good in T20. He wasn’t a part of the T20 team, in XI. But he was a part of the one-day team. That’s why he was kept for the one-day set-up. I think it will be difficult for Sanju Samson in the one-day set-up. It will be difficult for him to come back.”
In his last ODI appearance, Sanju Samson showcased his batting prowess with a stunning century, smashing 108 runs off 114 balls against South Africa in Paarl. Despite this impressive performance, he has not secured a regular place as the team’s preferred wicketkeeper-batsman.