“It could backfire”- Ex-Indian Cricketer Warns BCCI Against Overburdening Shubman Gill With Too Many Captaincy Roles
Mohammad Kaif cautions BCCI against overloading Shubman Gill with captaincy roles, saying it may hurt his batting and confidence.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed concern over Shubman Gill being handed multiple captaincy roles in quick succession, saying the young opener might be “overloaded” with responsibility. Kaif warned that the move could affect Gill’s batting form and “backfire” if not managed carefully.
Gill, already India’s Test captain, was recently appointed ODI skipper for the upcoming three-match series against Australia starting October 19. He is also leading the team in the ongoing two-Test series against West Indies.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Kaif said he expected such a transition only after the 2027 World Cup.
“This was on expected lines, but I felt this would happen after the 2027 World Cup. The guy has quality, and he’s also worked on his fitness. He had a realistic chance of playing in the 2027 World Cup. However, the load falls on Gill. He’s getting all of it in a hurry. It could also backfire. When you get so much responsibility in such a short time, it could affect performance,” Kaif said.
He added that the selectors might be pushing Gill into roles he didn’t personally seek.
“My point is: Don’t overburden him. He captains in Tests, bats at No. 4, was made vice-captain in the Asia Cup and will take over when Suryakumar Yadav steps aside. Now, you’ve made him the ODI captain. I feel everything is being done in a hurry. A player never asks for captaincy. Everyone knows he didn’t want it. You can’t demand it, but everyone seems to like him a lot and considers him a captain for the future. The selectors, including Ajit Agarkar, have pressurised him,” Kaif added.
Kaif’s remarks come as India prepare for their ODI tour of Australia, followed by a five-match T20I series. Gill’s appointment as ODI skipper marks a major generational shift in Indian cricket, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now focusing solely on ODIs without leadership duties.
As Gill begins his captaincy journey across formats, Kaif’s warning highlights a growing concern—whether too much responsibility too soon could affect one of India’s most promising batters in his prime.
