Gill backed by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, says Gambhir [Source: AFP]Shubman Gill is set to resume Team India captaincy for the upcoming three-match home ODI series against West Indies. After leading the Indian cricket team to Test success in Sri Lanka, the prolific opening batter will now be re-joined by senior pros Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the national ODI squad. It is worth noting that even though Gill was named India’s ODI captain a year ago before a series in Australia, the cricketer is yet to record a notable series win for his side in the 50-overs format. Despite his underwhelming beginning as ODI captain and with the next 50-overs World Cup just a year away, the 27-year-old has received the backing of none other than his head coach, Gautam Gambhir.Gambhir implies Gill still learning, fortunate to have Rohit and Kohli as teammatesWhile speaking on JioStar ahead of India’s hectic home season, head coach Gautam Gambhir implied that Shubman Gill as captain is still in his learning phase. Gambhir also added that the prolific top-order batter is “very fortunate” to have teammates like Indian batting behemoths Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.According to the cricketer-turned-coach, players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can assist Gill both on and off the field, as the cricketer gears up to lead the national side in next year’s 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa.Also Read- Shubman Gill Doubtful For Final 2 New Zealand ODIs, India To Pick New CaptainGautam Gambhir said “In ODIs, Shubman Gill is very fortunate that he has got the likes of Rohit and Virat to help him on and off the field.”Gambhir further backed Gill despite his underwhelming beginnings as skipper in 50-overs cricket, claiming that the 27-year-old has “ticked all the boxes” as captain so far.He said “Leaving out anyone in Indian cricket from the playing eleven is always going to be tough. But when you have to do that as a young captain, it is probably the toughest job for any coach and captain to do it. So far, he has done that. He has actually ticked all the boxes.”Gautam Gambhir added “I feel that he has done all the right things…he has had a bit of a tough time in One Day cricket. But I am sure, I think things will turn around because he has done all the right things.”Shubman Gill record as India’s ODI captain so farShubman Gill was named India’s ODI captain last year, and has so far led the national side in 12 ODIs spanning four different series of three matches each.Unfortunately for Gill, his lone series success occurred against Afghanistan a couple of months ago when Team India completed a 3-0 sweep.In his remaining three series against Australia (away in 2025), against New Zealand (home in 2026) and against England (away in 2026), Gill’s Indian cricket team suffered identical 1-2 series defeats. Overall, in his 12 matches as captain, Team India has registered just six wins at an expense of six defeats to hand the cricketer a win percentage of only 50.To put that in wider perspective, India’s previous regular ODI skipper Rohit Sharma held a win percentage of 72 and his predecessor Virat Kohli held a success rate of close to 69 percent.Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to helm India’s top-order till World Cup 2027Shubman Gill will be reuniting with his senior colleagues Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies at home. The trio will continue to headline India’s famed top-order, and the trend will pretty much continue up until the 2027 World Cup next year.The three cricketers also led India’s top-order in the previous World Cup in 2023, and during India’s historic 2025 Champions Trophy winning campaign in the UAE.Also Read- Shafali Verma Blends Explosiveness With Consistency
