Ian Bishop, a former West Indies pace bowler, believes Shubman Gill's captaincy is going to be enhanced by the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in India's upcoming ODI series, calling their presence "a huge support system" for the emerging leader. Speaking after India's 2-0 Test series win over the West Indies, Bishop remarked that although Gill has the right temperament and ability to captain, he will need time to develop as a tactician.
Gill, 24, will captain India in ODIs in Australia, marking his first major assignment as skipper. Bishop expressed confidence in the young opener’s potential, saying, “He’ll be fine. Those two guys will help him along the way. He will grow in the job.” He added, “He’s nowhere near the finished article. People have to give him that chance to grow as a captain, and as a batsman, he will grow as well.”
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could provide crucial guidance, says Ian Bishop
Bishop emphasised that the experience of Rohit and Kohli will be invaluable for Gill, both in tactical decision-making and managing leadership pressures. “He has the temperament and the skill to lead, but growth in captaincy and tactics is something that will take a couple of seasons to develop. I’m sure he’ll get help from the two veterans,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of Rohit and Kohli featuring in the 2027 World Cup, Bishop said it would depend on their motivation and fitness. “That’s their decision. I can’t answer that for Rohit, Virat, or the BCCI. It depends on their determination and skill. They’ve been fine so far,” he added.
Reflecting on the recent Test series, Bishop highlighted encouraging performances from the West Indies, praising Shai Hope, John Campbell, and Justin Greaves for their batting and Jomel Warrican for his bowling. “From a West Indian perspective, it was great to see a few of the batters spending time at the crease. The trust they showed in the pitch was excellent. It’s not that they’ve arrived, but they’ve put some building blocks in place,” he concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)
