AUS vs IND 2025: 'Perfect situation for Shubman Gill' - Star all-rounder on Rohit-Virat's presence for tour

Published - 17 Oct 2025, 15:12 IST | Updated - 17 Oct 2025, 15:34 IST

Ace all-rounder Axar Patel feels the white-ball series against Australia will be a perfect opportunity for India skipper Shubman Gill to grow as a person and captain. Three ODIs and five T20Is will be played by India in their upcoming tour of Australia, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are available for the 50-over leg of the all-important assignment.

Axar also revealed that there Gill has no external pressure, who was recently appointed as the leader of the ODI side, too. He also noted the effect of the Indian Premier League on younger players' increased confidence. The 31-year-old noted that the presence of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is a beneficial support for Gill. He was also confident that the entire squad will integrate together seamlessly.

“If that happens—a perfect start in ODIs like England—that’s a perfect start for Shubman Gill as captain. He is not being pressured after taking up the role as captain. That’s a good quality. I played with other captains. Now, the younger players are coming. This is a transition period. We are sharing knowledge with the youngsters. We are talking about the style of play. The youngsters, because they are playing in the IPL, are ready to go straightaway," stated Axar, as quoted by India Today.

“That's a great example for Shubman that both Rohit and Virat are there. We are seeing the transition happening. And it’s good that the seniors are with the youngsters at this phase. The youngsters will know how to handle situations. The discussions in the dressing room are always about what to do and what not to do on the field. It’s a perfect situation for Shubman Gill because he has both Rohit and Virat in the dressing room. This is a great opportunity for him to grow as a captain. It’s a perfect mix of youngsters and seniors, and we will surely gel well,” he added.

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India will kickstart the eight-match white-ball series with the first ODI on Sunday, October 19. Rohit and Kohli, having previously retired from T20Is and Tests, will be a part of only the T20I series. For the unversed, Gill is the vice-captain for the 20-over leg, with Suryakumar Yadav being the mainstay for the Men in Blue.