Mohammed Shami suggested that the captaincy came too soon for Shubman Gill.© BCCI
Injured Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Mohammed Shami has said that Shubman Gill will take over as the captain of the franchise for IPL 2024. Gill replaced Hardik Pandya as GT captain following the all-rounder’s trade to Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction last year. Gill will make his captaincy debut against Hardik’s MI at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Speaking about the change in leadership, Shami, who has been ruled out of the season due to injury, suggested that the captaincy came too soon for Gill.
“As you said (the presenter suggested that the captain came early for Gill), the captain came early, and he didn’t expect it; I feel the same way. But one day you had to take responsibility. You got it right in the last few seasons and also performed well in international cricket,” Shami told Cricbuzz.
However, Shami also had some advice for Gill that the youngster should not let the captain’s pressure affect his play.
“You don’t have to let the captaincy bother you too much, just be normal and be patient. The calmer you stay, the better it will be. You have the responsibility now; you can’t say no. Just concentrate on your skills and how to balance your team,” he added.
Gill may be raw when it comes to captaincy, but he is widely regarded as the ‘next big thing’ in Indian cricket as far as his batting is concerned. But that doesn’t change the fact that there will be new challenges for Gill as he takes on the role of captain.
At GT, Gill has big shoes to fill after Hardik led the franchise to the title in their debut season in 2022, before also leading them to the final last season where they lost to Chennai Super Kings.
After winning the Orange Cap in the previous edition, Gill would be keen to take on Mumbai Indians in GT’s campaign opener.
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