• Home
  • Who Said What
  • I Want To Be A Captain Jaiswal Reveals Leadership Dream Amid Gills Rise

"I want to be a captain": Jaiswal reveals leadership dream amid Gill’s rise

Jatin

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill [Source: @BCCI/x.com]Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill [Source: @BCCI/x.com]

Yashasvi Jaiswal has never been one to dream small. At just 23, the left-handed opener has already etched his name into India’s future plans across all three formats.

Jaiswal shares leadership ambition amid Gill’s growing captaincy role

Be it Test cricket’s grind, ODI patience or T20 fireworks, he has shown the skill and temperament across formats. But now, the youngster has set his sights even higher: leading India one day.

Speaking on entrepreneur Raj Shamani’s podcast, Yashasvi Jaiswal revealed that beyond runs and milestones, captaincy is a long-term dream that keeps him motivated. He said he is working hard every single day to grow not just as a cricketer but as a person ready for leadership.

“Currently, I am focusing a lot on my fitness. I am learning more about my body as I feel that with time, I need to be fitter and need to work more on my skills,” Jaiswal said. “Every day, I have to work on myself to evolve myself into a leader. One day, I want to be a captain.”

It is a simple but strong statement, one that shows just how grounded and ambitious the Mumbai lad remains. He is already known for his intensity on the field but hearing him talk about leadership gives fans a glimpse into his mindset beyond the boundary ropes.

The Gill factor and the bigger picture

Of course, competition for the captain’s chair is as fierce as the contest in the middle. With Shubman Gill now leading India in ODIs and Tests, the BCCI seems to be grooming him as the long-term successor in the post-Rohit Sharma era. The two batters are almost of the same age and Gill’s rise in the leadership pipeline means Jaiswal might have to wait his turn.

But patience has never been a stranger to Jaiswal, the boy who once sold pani puris outside Azad Maidan knows that every dream takes time. For now, he os doing what he does best: scoring runs, staying fit and waiting for the right opportunity.

Could the IPL be his first step?

If the whispers around Rajasthan Royals are anything to go by, Jaiswal might not have to wait too long to step into a leadership role. The franchise is reportedly headed for a major shake-up with talks swirling around Sanju Samson’s future as captain. Should the Royals look for a young, long-term face to lead them, Jaiswal’s name would naturally top that list.

He has been one of RR’s brightest sparks over the last few seasons. Handing him the reins could be the start of something new, a phase where Jaiswal not only carries the team with his bat but also leads it with his vision.