Amit Mishra, the experienced Indian spinner, delved into several contentious issues in Indian cricket during a podcast discussion. From addressing the KL Rahul-Sanjeev Goenka incident to shedding light on the Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir dispute, Mishra touched upon various hot topics in the sport. He also expressed his opinion on Shubman Gill being appointed as India’s captain for the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe, stating that he believes the opening batsman shouldn’t have been given the role. According to Mishra, Ruturaj Gaikwad is a superior choice in all aspects, including batting.
During a conversation on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube podcast, Mishra confidently expressed his opinion that appointing Gill as India’s T20 captain for the Zimbabwe series was not the best decision. The experienced spinner found the choice to be quite unexpected. “He wouldn’t be my choice for captain. I observed him during the IPL, and it was evident that he lacks the understanding of how to lead a team.
He simply doesn’t possess the necessary captaincy skills,” Mishra stated during the podcast. “Just being a part of the Indian team doesn’t automatically qualify him to be the captain. While Gill has shown promise in the IPL and with the Indian team, his leadership abilities were not apparent when he captained the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. The decision to make him captain seems to be aimed at providing him with leadership exposure,” he further elaborated.
Mishra mentioned Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, and Ruturaj Gaikwad as potential captaincy options for the shortest format. Gaikwad was part of the Zimbabwe T20Is series from the start, while Samson joined the team in the second match. “There’s Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, Ruturaj Gaikwad who can lead India in T20Is. Right now, the BCCI is only looking to assess all options,” he said when asked about the reason behind Gill’s elevation to the leadership role.
Everyone Favours Someone
Mishra emphasized that everyone has their preferences when it comes to players. He expressed his admiration for Shubman Gill while also pointing out that he believes Ruturaj is a more suitable choice due to his ability to perform well in challenging situations.
Mishra suggested that Ruturaj should be included in the team, drawing a parallel with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s presence in the Indian side during the T20 World Cup. Mishra highlighted Ruturaj’s versatility across T20Is, ODIs, and Tests, emphasizing the importance of his calming influence on the team and his tendency to avoid risky shots. Additionally, Mishra recommended that Ruturaj should consider hiring a competent manager for his social media public relations.