'His mind is constantly running on what to do' - Shahrukh Khan on Gill's captaincy

Shahrukh Khan has spoken about Shubman Gill's evolution as a leader, describing the India captain as someone whose tactical mind remains constantly engaged with the game. The Gujarat Titans batter offered insight into what it is like to play under Gill's captaincy, drawing on his experience in the dressing room.

Shahrukh highlighted Gill's growth from leading Gujarat Titans to captaining India's Test side. He noted the visible impact of Gill's captaincy during the England series, where the captain demonstrated aggression when the team required it. Shahrukh also emphasised Gill's understanding of his players and the value of sharing the dressing room with him.

"Obviously, as a captain, he has grown immensely from captaining Gujarat Titans to captaining the country's Test side. I don't have to explain how good a captain he is. Because we saw the series in England, the way he captained, how aggressive he was whenever the team needed him to be. And looking at his journey as a captain, it's been wonderful to share the dressing room alongside him, where he understands players very well," Shahrukh said as quoted by NDTV Sports.

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Tactical approach and constant game awareness

Shahrukh described Gill as someone whose tactical approach may not be immediately obvious to observers but becomes clear when viewed from within the team environment. The batter explained that Gill's decision-making process involves constant analysis of the game and the situations unfolding around him.

"He is somebody who is very tactical. Doesn't look like much when you see from the outside. But as teammates, when you see him every day at practise and in the game, his mind is constantly running on what to do," Shahrukh said.

Shahrukh further noted that Gill possesses multiple strategic options at any given moment during a match and regularly selects the correct course of action. Playing under such a captain, according to Shahrukh, has been a rewarding experience.

"He has got so many options in his head which he more often than not chooses the right thing. And to be playing under him is a pleasure," Shahrukh said.

Shahrukh's remarks came after a challenging IPL 2026 season for him. Though retained by the franchise, he struggled to make an impact and was removed from the playing XI partway through the tournament. His comments reflected his perspective on Gill's leadership qualities despite his own difficult campaign with the team.