Amit Mishra Criticizes BCCI’s Decision to Appoint Shubman Gill as Captain for Zimbabwe Series

Veteran Indian spinner Amit Mishra has voiced his disapproval over the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as the captain for the recently concluded five-match series against Zimbabwe. 

Mishra’s criticism stems from Gill’s performance as a captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, where under his leadership, the Gujarat Titans finished eighth on the points table.

Mishra did not hold back his opinions during an appearance on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, stating that Gill appeared “clueless” as a captain throughout the IPL season. 

“I would not have made him the captain. You saw the IPL this season, Gill doesn’t know how to captain the side, he is clueless. Just because he is a part of the Indian team, he shouldn’t be made the captain,” Mishra said.

While Mishra acknowledged Gill’s prowess with the bat in the shortest format of the game, he questioned the rationale behind the decision to give him the leadership role, suggesting there were more suitable candidates. 

“Gill has done well in the IPL over the last few seasons, he did fine in the Indian team as well. The Indian team made him the captain as they want to give him the leadership experience, which wasn’t visible when he led Gujarat Titans in IPL,” Mishra added.

The veteran spinner further reiterated his stance, emphasizing that simply being a part of the Indian team should not automatically qualify someone for captaincy. 

“I’ve seen him (Shubman Gill) in the IPL, and he doesn’t know how to do captaincy. He has no idea about captaincy. Why they made him captain is a question. Just because he’s in the Indian team doesn’t mean he should be made captain,” he concluded.

Mishra also proposed an alternative, suggesting Ruturaj Gaikwad as a better candidate for the captaincy role. Gaikwad, who has shown his versatility by performing in all three formats of the game, was described by Mishra as a more reliable option. 

“I am not a Shubman Gill hater, I also like him. But, I feel Ruturaj is a better option because he has scored runs in tougher situations, be it for Chennai Super Kings or during the Asian Games,” Mishra explained.

Interestingly, Mishra pointed out that Gaikwad might be underrepresented due to a lack of effective management. He suggested that Gaikwad’s potential could be maximized with better promotional support. 

“He is a good option, should be kept with the team, the way Yashasvi Jaiswal was with the Indian side at the T20 World Cup. He is someone who can deliver in T20Is, ODIs, and Tests. The most important thing is, who brings calmness to the team? He doesn’t play risky shots much. He should hire a good manager,” Mishra said.

Despite his criticisms, Mishra made it clear that he holds no animosity towards Gill. His assessment was based purely on the leadership qualities displayed during the IPL season, and his preference for Gaikwad was grounded in the latter’s proven ability to perform under pressure across various formats.

The BCCI’s decision to appoint Gill as captain is part of their broader strategy to cultivate leadership skills among young players. However, Mishra’s critique brings to light the complexities involved in such decisions, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach that considers both current capabilities and future potential.