Shubman Gill's captaincy is a mix of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: Jos Buttler

T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler has labelled Shubman Gill, India's new Test captain, as a combination of his predecessors - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. While Rohit Sharma, with his calm and composed approach, led India to a four ICC finals, an Asia Cup win and a T20 World Cup and a Champions Trophy title in his captaincy, it was Virat Kohli whose intense character led India to greater heights, especially in the red-ball format, as India was the No.1 Test side during the majority of his time as a skipper.

Buttler, who played under Gill's captaincy in Gujarat Titans during IPL 2025, says that the latter is actually a mix of both, since he follows a calm approach like Rohit, while also having an aggressive on-field demeanour like that of Virat Kohli. According to the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, the 25-year-old has learned some important leadership traits from the legendary India duo, but also carries his individual personality, which will make him stand out as captain.

"He's a really impressive player and an impressive young man. He's pretty calm and measured when he speaks, but [it's] interesting, I feel like on the field he's got a bit of fight about him; a bit of intensity, quite passionate. I think he'll be a mix of Kohli and Rohit," Buttler told in a conversation on For The Love of Cricket podcast alongside legendary bowler Stuart Broad.

"Kohli [was] that sort of real aggressive [character], really transformed the Indian team, in your face, up for the contest. Rohit [was] a bit on the other side, a bit more laid back, very cool, calm, collected customer, but with that sort of fight. I feel like, from my time knowing Shubman so far, he'll be a bit in the middle. He's obviously learned from those two guys… but he'll be very much his own man."

The 35-year-old Englishman further shared his experience of playing at GT under Gill's captaincy. He feels that Gill understands the difference between individual performances when it comes to batting at the top, while also knowing the importance of leading by example.

"He talked about compartmentalising batting and captaining; so when he's batting he just wants to be a batter, and then he will try and work on his captaincy and try and separate the two roles. When you're doing such a big job as being captain of the Indian cricket team, he'll have to try and do that well and have some good people supporting him.

India Test captain the most influential person in India after the Prime Minister: Buttler

"I don't think we can quite understand the level of interest and the stardom that these guys have. You see it around the IPL, you're aware of it, but actually living that yourself… I think they say the Indian Test captain is like the third or fourth-most influential person in India, behind the Prime Minister etc. - so you really are put up on that pedestal," he further noted.

"It's going to be a huge job for him. He's obviously captained two seasons of IPL cricket, which is a big, pressurised job and he's sort of the prince. Kohli is the king, Shubman is the prince: that's the narrative that they spin out there, and I feel that he's the coming man… Stepping into that No. 4, it's big shoes, isn't it? Coming behind Virat, and Sachin Tendulkar before that as well. That's obviously a huge role," he concluded.

The first assignment for Gill as India captain is going to be an immensely huge challenge, as he will be leading the Baggy Blues in the five-match Test series against England, with the first Test commencing on June 20 at the Headingley in Leeds. He will want to prove his mettle and mark the statement of his arrival as India's premier red-ball figure in the future.