'Don't overburden him' - Former India cricketer feels Shubman Gill's appointment as ODI captain could 'backfire'

Published - 06 Oct 2025, 19:55 IST | Updated - 06 Oct 2025, 19:56 IST

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif feels the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have rushed Shubman Gill into too many leadership roles. After Test captaincy, Gill was recently handed over the captaincy for India's 50-over squad.

Kaif said the decision was not unexpected but he anticipated the transition after the 2027 World Cup. He also expressed worry about the impact the added responsibility could make on Gill's performance as a batter.

“This was on expected lines, but I felt this would happen after the 2027 World Cup. The guy has quality, and he’s also worked on his fitness. He had a realistic chance of playing in the 2027 World Cup. However, the load falls on Gill. He’s getting all of it in a hurry. It could also backfire. When you get so much responsibility in such a short time, it could affect performance," stated Kaif in a video on his YouTube channel.

Kaif also conceded that putting added load on his shoulders could take a mental toll on Gill. He noted that the selection committee including former teammate Ajit Agarkar may have compelled Gill to accept the role of ODI captain.

“My point is: Don’t overburden him. He captains in Tests, bats at No. 4, was made vice-captain in the Asia Cup and will take over when Suryakumar Yadav steps aside. Now, you’ve made him the ODI captain. I feel everything is being done in a hurry. A player never asks for captaincy. Everyone knows he didn’t want it. You can’t demand it, but everyone seems to like him a lot and considers him a captain for the future. The selectors, including Ajit Agarkar, have pressurised him," he added.

Right call: Ex-South African skipper backs Gill as captain

Gill is currently leading India in the ongoing two-match series against West Indies. After the series against West Indies, he will be captaining the ODI setup against Australia Down Under. The first of the three ODIs are scheduled to commence on Sunday, October 19.