Masterstroke!” – Monty Panesar Lauds Shubman Gill’s ODI Captaincy After Replacing Rohit Sharma

Monty Panesar Commends Shubman Gill as New ODI Captain

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed Shubman Gill as the captain of the Indian ODI team ahead of the limited overs tour of Australia. This move has been described as a “masterstroke” by former England spinner Monty Panesar, who believes Gill is a born leader, and would perform under the added pressure of responsibility.

Gill is the new ODI captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, even after Sharma led India to win the Champions Trophy earlier this year. A lot of fans didn’t see this coming. Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI chief selector, said he told Sharma that the change is part of a long plan to get Gill ready to lead in the future.

Gill’s first job as captain will be against Australia in a three ODI match series starting October 19, and then a five match T20I series.

Panesar Calls It a “Masterstroke”

Reacting to the development, Monty Panesar strongly backed the decision.

“I think this is a great decision because I have seen Gill perform really well. Making him captain alongside Rohit Sharma can help and guide him during the series. This is a really good move. We saw in England that he is a natural leader. When you give Shubman Gill responsibility, you see his best performance,” Panesar said.

The former spinner added that Gill could also be entrusted with T20I captaincy in the near future.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is also given the captaincy in T20 Internationals because I believe he is a player who performs well when given responsibility.”

Gill Focused on 2027 ODI World Cup

While all eyes are on the forthcoming series against Australia, Shubman Gill has not only waiting but has already his vision been fixed upon the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. It is anticipated that India will have around 20 ODI matches prior to the tournament, and Gill was clear about the need to establishing a good run of form.

In a recent BCCI video, Gill said:

“Captaining my country’s ODI team and leading a team that is performing well is the biggest honor for me. It’s a matter of great pride. I hope I can perform well. I think we have around 20 ODIs before the World Cup, and obviously our target is the World Cup in South Africa.”

Shubman Gill’s endorsement represents a transitional stage for Indian cricket, with Gill being prepared to represent the face of the team’s future. While Rohit Sharma’s experience is still worth its weight, the BCCI is clearly focused on Gill as a long term leader in all formats.

With Monty Panesar’s support and Gill’s desire to be successful, the road to the 2027 World Cup suddenly feels even more intriguing.