While Hardik Pandya is looking destined to lead Gujarat Titans for the foreseeable future, Vikram Solanki, the Director of Cricket for the franchise, has not ruled out the possibility of Shubman Gill replacing the allrounder as the captain.
Gujarat Titans made their debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year and exceeded all the expectations by going on to win the title. They performed consistently throughout the league and finished the league stage at the top of the points table with 10 wins from 14 games.
They then beat Rajasthan Royals in the Qualifier and the final to lift the title under Pandya’s captaincy. The allrounder surprised everyone with his captaincy skills as he led the team from the very front. His smart tactical decisions drew praise from all over.
Shubman Gill:
As Gujarat Titans gear up to defend their title, Solanki has said that Shubman Gill has a smart cricket brain and he can be the leader of the team in the future. The former England cricketer also said that the opener was part of the leadership group for the team in its inaugural edition last year.
The right-handed batsman played a crucial role in Titans’ run to the title. He finished the competition with 483 runs that included 4 fifty-plus scores, at a strike rate of over 135. In the last one year or so, his reputation has only enhanced in the game especially after his stunning performances in the first three months of the ongoing year.
“Do I think that Shubman will be a leader in the future? Yes absolutely, but no decision has been made about that as yet. He has leadership qualities and is very mature who has an abundant amount of talent,” Vikram Solanki said.
“He has a very smart cricketing brain and we will continue to have conversations with Shubman and invite his opinion on every decision we make,” he added.
Speaking further, Solanki said that Gill is already being seen as a leader in the side because of his professional approach and conduct.
“Shubman is a leader in his own right for the simple fact that he takes on a lot of responsibility. In my mind, it is not important that you play with an asterisk next to a player’s name.
“Shubman adapted the leadership role last year, by his conduct, by the way he goes about, with his professional attitude towards the game,” Solanki said.
Meanwhile, IPL 2023 is scheduled to begin on March 31. Gujarat Titans will be in action on the very first day as they are scheduled to lock horns against Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Chennai.