Shubman Gill Era? Can the dynamic 37th Test Skipper of India Lead across all formats successfully?

When discussing the future of Indian cricket, one name always comes to mind: that of Shubman Gill. The waves had to be turned up again as the boy of Fazilka in Punjab is now the youngest ever Test Captain of India, the 24-year-old batting sensation. As Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma approach the end of their careers, the contentious topic is whether Gill will become an all-format leader in the future.

The Rising Future Star: Shubman Gill’s Journey from Fazilka to India’s Test Captain

From growing up and playing cricket since the age of 3 to playing in foreign countries and becoming the first Indian batter to score 700 runs in a Test series played in SENA countries. His journey is nothing short of a reverie. He has been depicting his potential since his early days of playing cricket, and he has won consecutive BCCI junior cricketer of the year awards in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

His class, temperament, and hunger have been on view since he made headlines through his out-of-the-world performance in the U-19 World Cup 2018. Later, he gained double centuries in ODIs and Tests. He is already being equated to some of the best players of all time at a very young age in terms of ability.

Let’s have a look at his stats:

His stats across various formats prove his potential in this game, and he currently trails Sir Don Bradman for the most runs in a captaincy debut with 722* runs in his first Test series as captain.

Historic company for Shubman Gill! 🔥

With 722* runs in his debut Test series as skipper, he now ranks just behind Sir Don Bradman for the most runs in a captaincy debut. 💯#ENGvIND #ShubmanGill #TestCricket #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/GDJyOPV3oq

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) July 27, 2025

Could He Become the Next All-Format Skipper for India? : Capabilities and Experience in Leadership

Previously, he has shown his potential as T20 captain in India’s 5 match T20 series against Zimbabwe in July 2024. And now he is showing his potential as Test Captain in this India vs England series. He was also the captain of Punjab in domestic cricket and has captained the India A team a couple of times, and his cool and calm nature has always shown us that he is capable of captaincy.

The decision by BCCI and selectors in offering Shubman Gill the Test captaincy when India is already in a transition phase demonstrates how well they believe he is here for the long run. Since test cricket is the most difficult format, it’s frequently thought of as a test for leadership abilities. Gill may soon be on his way to becoming an ODI and T20I permanent skipper if he can effectively handle this task.

Challenges that could come in his way:

Making the switch to an all-format captain won’t be easy. India is a country where cricket is like a religion, and every decision taken by its captains is closely watched. Shubman Gill has to look after a few things and learn them quickly. He has to make tactical and strategic choices under pressure, and along with his leadership duties, he has to focus on his batting. Furthermore, captaining across formats is a serious workload.

Transitional Phase: Rise of new Superstars

Currently, Indian cricket is in a phase of transition with both of the most considerable pillars of Indian cricket, such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to have already retired in Test and T20 formats. So, for now, India is looking for their replacement.

Is he ready for the big duty?

Modern cricket can be achieved successfully by young leaders, despite experience. Other leaders like Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli were leaders at comparatively young ages, and they have flourished. It is not age but the ability to be a team head, to motivate people, and to be capable of making the correct decision in critical cases.

In the case of Shubman Gill, he is still in the beginning stages of being the captain, and he already fulfills most of these criteria. If he keeps improving, and can make India win under pressure, and make tactical decisions, India might see him as the all-format captain.

It’s just a matter of time, is he ready for this big duty or not? Even though the answer is still unfolding but looking at the young Indian cricket team, one thing is clear: Indian cricket is in safe hands.