Team India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) shed light on his relationship with ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill. SKY believes Gill’s rise will leave a positive mark on cricket as India continue to navigate their future without veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the helm.
Shubman Gill now holds 2 out of 3 available Team India captaincies and could snatch one more before his career ends.
SKY Admits the Fear of Losing His T20I Captaincy to Shubman Gill
Suryakumar expressed delight at Gill’s career development since his debut into professional cricket:
“I am very happy for him that he has become captain in two formats. He has done really well,” SKY told reporters during a recent interview.
“Everyone feels that fear” – Suryakumar admits
The interim T20I captain also spoke on the strengthened connection he shares with his ODI and Test counterpart during and after games. However, he was quick to mention a certain dread linked to a potential loss of his captaincy:
“I won’t lie, everyone feels that fear. But, it is the kind of fear that keeps you motivated. The camaraderie between me and him (Shubman Gill) is amazing off the field and on it. I know what kind of player and human he is. So it just motivates me to do well, but I am happy for him,” SKY said.
“I am working hard” – SKY suggests in bid to avoid losing his T20I captaincy early
Yadav is one of the late-bloomers in India’s squad but has continued to deliver remarkable performances shortly after becoming its T20I skipper. The star player does not write off fears (of losing captaincy to Gill) he experienced; however, he works toward retaining his position off on-pitch merits:
“If I was someone who got affected by things like these and thought so much about it, I wouldn’t have played my first ball in international cricket the way I did. So I have left that fear behind a long time back. I believe if I am working hard on myself, following things that have to be followed, working very hard and being honest to myself, the rest will be taken care of,” Gill said.
How Has Shubman Gill Performed as Team India Skipper So Far?
Very few players attain the honour of becoming national team captain throughout their careers. Gill made history as one of Test cricket’s youngest-ever captains at 25 years old and his first challenge was a tough 5-match trip to England.
A series of injuries and tough opposition made Gill’s first Test series as captain even harder, but he rose to the challenge. Gill rallied his teammates to a hard-fought 2-2 series draw in England to avoid defeat in his first Test as captain.
He looks set to continue in fine form as team captain against Australia in the ongoing ODI series. Gill will look to former all-format captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as India looks to erase the bitter taste of last year’s 3-1 Test loss Down Under.
Gill Rubbishes Rift Rumours with Ex-Captains, Signals Admiration for Kohli and Sharma
Shubman Gill recently spoke on his relationship with Team India veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both legends of the game are currently under Gill’s leadership in ODIs after their Test retirement in May 2025.
Some analysts seemed to weave a narrative highlighting potential rifts within the squad based on Gill’s insufficient experience to lead Kohli and Sharma. However, Gill rubbished these reports, claiming Virat and Sharma are happy to always share their ideas before, during, and after games:
“The narrative outside might be different, but for us, nothing has changed. Everything remains the same as before, and that’s really helpful. Whatever they experience, whether it’s reading the pitch or handling a situation, I ask them for their thoughts. I value their opinions and then, based on my own understanding of the game, I make my decisions accordingly,” the skipper said.
My “relationship with Virat and Rohit” is strong – Gill claims
Gill says he maintains a solid relationship with the former ODI and Test captains. He also shares comments on how he seeks vital information from both players as they approach the end of their international careers:
“I have a very strong relationship with both Virat Bhai and Rohit Bhai. Whenever I have any doubts, I approach them, seek their suggestions, and ask for their advice, and they always openly share their thoughts with me. To me, that’s the true value of experience,” the young 2-format captain added.
