Shubman Gill IPL experience: 91 matches
Shubman Gill IPL batting record: 2,790 runs, strike rate 134
Shubman Gill IPL captaincy record: never led. Captained Punjab twice in domestic T20: won 1, lost 1.
Following Hardik Pandya’s much-discussed move to Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans appointed Shubman Gill as captain. Only 24, Gill has never led in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and has led his state side Punjab only twice in the format, back in 2019. When he walks out to toss, he will become only the fourth Indian full-time IPL captain before the age of 25, after Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant.
Gill’s job is not going to be easy. Gujarat will be without Pandya and Mohammed Shami, while Rashid Khan will be returning from an injury. All three played key roles in Gujarat’s success in 2022, when they won the IPL, and in 2023, when they lost the final off the last ball.
Gill’s role will be vital. In 2023, he demonstrated that he could switch between roles with seamless ease. He can bat through the innings as well as accelerate at will. As a result, not only did he win the Orange Cap, but he struck at 158 – the only time he crossed the 150-mark in his IPL career. He has put that ability to great use for India as well, amassing runs at will in limited-overs formats and finally finding form in Test cricket.
There is little doubt over Gill’s stupendous ability with the bat. At Ahmedabad, his performance goes up a notch. His 669 IPL runs here are nearly twice as many as anyone else’s tally; he has scored two of his three IPL hundreds here; and he strikes at 159 on the venue.
But now, he will have to assume a role he is not used to. Whether he can convert that into success for the team will define his legacy.
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