Dinesh Karthik urges Shubman Gill to stand up for himself as India captain

Shubman Gill scored 110 off 108 deliveries in a successful run chase against West Indies on September 27, recording his 10th ODI hundred. Gill leads India in the three-match home ODI series against West Indies, a crucial part of the team's preparation for the 2027 World Cup. Since taking over from Rohit Sharma last year, Gill has accumulated 714 runs in 12 innings as ODI captain at an average of 71.40, though his captaincy tenure has been marked by an erratic start with only one series win so far.

Dinesh Karthik has offered his assessment of Gill's captaincy, emphasising both his batting credentials and the need for stronger leadership. Karthik acknowledged Gill's growth as a player and the respect he has earned within the team. According to Karthik, Gill reclaimed the top spot in the ICC ODI Rankings for batters in July 2026 following his impressive series against England, underlining his standing as a world-class batter.

"I think it is a fair statement, we all know how talented Shubman Gill is, and how efficient he has been in this format. I think he has not only grown in stature, but people respect him, and now he needs to stand up for himself as the leader. As a batter, I think he is right up there with some of the best in the world. In this format, he has been very consistent, taken on the big moments. For him, the next step is obviously to guide a team," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

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Building squad identity and confidence

Karthik elaborated on what Gill must do to strengthen his position as captain. The former India wicketkeeper stressed that Gill will need to put his foot down at times to show his authority and impart his identity on an inherited team. Karthik noted that the core of the team has been built by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, meaning Gill is working with an established structure.

"He should know exactly what his squad is. You might not know the exact 15, but 12-13 players you will know whom you want, and you should back them to the hilt. Give them that confidence so that when you reach that stage in South Africa, you know as a captain what you can expect from those players," Karthik said.