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Vikram Rathour, the former Indian batting coach, spoke in an exclusive interview about Shubman Gill getting the responsibility of being a vice-captain of India on the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. The 55-year-old remarked that just like the captaincy brought the best out of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, it can do the same for Shubman Gill.
In the recently concluded five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club, Shubman Gill led India to a 4-1 triumph with a team filled with stars of the future. He was also part of the Indian cricket team as a travelling reserve during the T20 World Cup 2024, which they went on to win after defeating South Africa in a thrilling final in the Caribbean.
While speaking to the Indian Express, Vikram Rathour, who was the Indian batting coach for around five years, alluded to the recent captaincy stints of Shubman Gill in the IPL and on the Zimbabwe tour. He remarked, “Whatever I have seen him, be it for the Gujarat Titans or in Zimbabwe (when Gill led in a T20 series), he did a good job. He has shown terrific body language, which is a must if you are leading a side. Now with the vice-captaincy, the BCCI has given him extra responsibility and I am sure he will thrive in this role.”
“I feel captaincy brought the best out of Virat and Rohit and I feel it will do the same for Shubman. Although he is not yet the captain, being in the leadership group will bring the best out of him as well. This is I am very sure of. When you are in that role, leading others, it gives you that extra bit of responsibility, which is good and I think is great for a young kid like Shubman, who one day might lead India in all three formats,” he added.
Notably, Shubman Gill will be the deputy of Suryakumar Yadav during the three-match T20I series away to Sri Lanka. Shortly after, in the three-match ODI series, he will be picking the brains of the captain Rohit Sharma in his vice-captain role of India.
