3 things that Shubman Gill should learn from Rohit Sharma to succeed as India's new captain

Gill replaced Rohit as India's ODI captain [Source: AFP]

On Saturday, Rohit Sharma formally concluded his stint as the Indian captain, with Shubman Gill replacing him in the role. Gill has already kickstarted his reign as the Test captain, while he is all set to lead the Men in Blue in ODIs as well. He has also been appointed as the vice-captain in T20Is and is in line to replace Suryakumar Yadav as the skipper. 

As Rohit marks his exit and the Gill era begins, here are three major learnings from the former that the latter should inculcate to succeed as the captain. 

What Shubman Gill should learn from Rohit Sharma

Excellent man management skills

• Rohit Sharma's teammates hail him for his man management skills. Rohit had a great rapport with the younger generation despite belonging to an entirely different era. 
• Be it Sarfaraz Khan or Ishan Kishan, India's young guns have always admired Rohit, as he ensured they got the freedom to express themselves. 
• While his affectionate mannerism kept the team bonding intact, Rohit also came down hard at the youngsters, guiding them with his valuable insights when required. 
• So, how Rohit Sharma managed to get the best out of his troops while maintaining a great relationship with them should inspire Shubman Gill as he is set to succeed him as the ODI captain. 

The art of leading from the front

(Rohit Sharma in ICC tournaments as captain since 2023)

• Rohit Sharma set the benchmark for the upcoming bunch of Indian captains with sensational performances as an opener during his tenure. After Shikhar Dhawan's retirement, Rohit took the risks as an aggressor and played an ultra-attacking brand of cricket, allowing Kohli and Gill to take their time and build the innings. This shows how he kept the team's needs ahead of himself, a trait that sets him apart from his contemporary captains. 
• While his quick-fire cameos became the talk of the town during the 2023 World Cup, Rohit led the charge as India's leading batter in the triumphant T20 World Cup campaign last year. The Champions Trophy also witnessed Rohit's batting excellence, as he struck 180 runs, including a magnificent 76 in the all-important final against New Zealand. 
• So, Shubman Gill should let his bat do the talking and set the example as a captain who loves to lead from the front like his predecessor. 

The never say die attitude

• The way India lost the 2023 World Cup final in front of a packed Ahmedabad crowd was sufficient enough to demoralise Rohit Sharma, the captain. Considering he was at the twilight of his career, Rohit had an easier option to resign and focus on playing purely as a batter for the remainder of his career. 
• However, he took an entirely opposite route, as he was determined to rectify his mistake and win at least one ICC trophy for India. His perseverance paid rich dividends for Rohit, as he eventually became only the second Indian captain after MS Dhoni to clinch the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. 
• So, Gill should be inspired from Rohit's never-say-die attitude and learn the art of bouncing back from setbacks as he is ready to announce himself as India's new ODI captain. 

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