Sai Kishore praises Shubman Gill's match sense and leadership

Gujarat Titans GT spinner R Sai Kishore has heaped praise on captain Shubman Gill highlighting the young leaders tactical acumen and sharp understanding of the game According to Kishore Gills presence has not only strengthened the teams batting unit but also played a pivotal role in guiding bowlers through critical phases of matchesShubman has always been a very good reader of the game Kishore said on Star Sports Press Room When he bats he understands the match situation well Hes not just a talented player but a very smart cricketer He has helped me a lot as a spinner Sometimes you need those inputs from the captain or a senior cricketer I have my own instincts and backing that with Shubmans gamereading really helps he addedUnder Gills captaincy Gujarat Titans are enjoying a strong season The franchise sits comfortably at the top of the points table with 16 points from 11 matches having won eight and lost only three With three more games left in the league phaseagainst Delhi Capitals DC Lucknow Super Giants LSG and Chennai Super Kings CSK the Titans are aiming to finish strong and secure a toptwo spot which will provide them a safety net in the playoffsGills leadership in the Indian Premier League IPL has not gone unnoticed The elegant righthander is widely regarded as the frontrunner to take over Indias Test captaincy from Rohit Sharma in the near future following the 38yearolds retirement from the longformat starting with the fiveTest tour to England in June reported ESPNCricinfoGill being named as Test captain looks inevitable as it looks that Jasprit Bumrah who led India in two Tests of the BorderGavaskar Trophy and picked up a recordbreaking 32 wickets in five Tests is likely to miss some Tests during the upcoming cycle for his workload management and preventing injuries as per ESPNCricinfoThe squad is expected to be picked during a meeting of the Ajit Agarkarled selection panel later this month ahead of the first Test from June 20 at Headingley With the series kicking off a fresh WTC cycle for years 202527 selectors want a captain who could be a longterm option with Gill having age by his side being 25 years oldThe question of Rohits successor came up even before he announced his retirement from the format as he was struggling with form over the last few months His form deteriorated during the Test season 202425 scoring 164 runs in eight Tests and 15 innings spanning from the home Bangladesh series to away BorderGavaskar Trophy with just one fifty He also became the captain who lost Indias firstever Test series at home against New Zealand last year by 30 and was also captain for the majority of the Australia series which India lost 31 which contributed to Indias exit from WTC final contentionGill has never led India in Tests and ODIs but has leadership experience in T20Is wearing the armband for five T20Is against Zimbabwe away from home He has also been Indias vicecaptain He has been also leading Gujarat Titans in the IPL since 2024 when their titlewinning skipper Hardik Pandya decided to have a homecoming to Mumbai Indians MI This season GT is at the top with eight wins and three losses coming after a poor last season when they were near the bottom of the points tally with just five wins in 14 games Gill is also the designated vicecaptain in both whiteball formats for IndiaSince his debut in Tests during the 202021 BorderGavaskar Trophy at Melbourne Gill has been a Test regular with 1893 runs in 32 Tests at an average of 3505 with five centuries and seven fifties in 59 innings and the best score of 128 His away form remains a concern despite recent form at home scoring 716 runs in 15 Tests and 28 innings at an average of 2753 with just a century and two fifties to his nameatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params