Earlier today, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Shubman Gill as India’s new ODI captain. Fresh from completing his maiden win at home, the Indian Test captain has reacted to fulfilling one of his childhood dreams.
Gill, honoured to become India’s new ODI captain
Gill revealed that he’s still a bit overwhelmed by the honoured bestowed upon him. Knowing he’s following in the footsteps of the likes of Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Gill knows how big a responsibility it’s to lead one’s side in ODI cricket.
“That is definitely a bit overwhelming. As a young kid, when anyone starts playing cricket, they want to play for India — and not just play for India but to play Test cricket for a very long time. To be able to get this opportunity is a great honour. Like you said, it’s a big responsibility,” Gill said in a video released by BCCI.
ODI World Cup, the main goal
Although over 24 months are still left, Gill has his eyes set on the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament will be played in South Africa, conditions where India doesn’t play as often. It’ll be challenging, but Gill’s ready for it. India will play 24 ODIs until February 2027, and the new captain will plan the roadmap accordingly.
“It’s the biggest honour to be able to lead your country in one-day cricket and to lead a side that has done so well. It’s an immense pride for me, and I hope I’ll be able to do great. I think we have about 20 ODIs before we play the World Cup. The ultimate goal is the World Cup in South Africa. Everything we play now—every player we try—is to ensure we’re fully ready to win that World Cup,” Gill further said.
