Former Indian cricketer and current BCCI selector RP Singh recently shared an insightful story about Rahul Dravid's early recognition of Shubman Gill's leadership potential.
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| Image Source: News18 |
In a conversation with Sony Sports, Singh recounted how, even before Dravid became the head coach, he had a discussion about the future leaders of the Indian cricket team. Singh mentioned prominent players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. To his surprise, Dravid pointed out Shubman Gill as the future captain. At that time, Gill wasn't even a regular in all three formats of the game.
Dravid's confidence in Gill was evident. He remarked, "If not today, then tomorrow, nobody will be able to stop him. He will be the Indian captain and will serve his position well." This foresight has now come to fruition, with Gill leading the Indian team in both Tests and ODIs.
RP Singh shares how Rahul Dravid had seen a captain in Shubman long before the world did 🙌 #SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/bH2DdPbJ9E
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 4, 2025
Gill's journey to captaincy has been remarkable. He first captained India during the five-match series against Zimbabwe in June 2024, which India won 4-1. His leadership qualities were further showcased during the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy series in England, where he not only led the team but also delivered outstanding performances with the bat. In the second Test at Edgbaston, Gill scored a double century, becoming the second Indian captain after Virat Kohli to achieve this feat in a Test match.
His consistent performances and leadership skills led to his appointment as the ODI captain ahead of the series against Australia in October 2025. This move aligns with the BCCI's strategy to have a unified leadership across formats, as noted by chief selector Ajit Agarkar