Keeping captaincy and batting apart is better, says Gujarat Titans’ captain Gill.

Gujarat Titans’ captain, Shubman Gill, emphasized the importance of separating his batting from captaincy, stating that mixing the two roles is not in the best interest of either the player or the team. Speaking on Wednesday, Gill shared his thoughts on balancing these responsibilities, highlighting that during fielding or off-field moments, he focuses more on captaincy, but when it comes to batting, his main priority is to concentrate solely on his performance. He explained, “The more you keep the captaincy and batting separate, the better it is. If I am going to bat, the best thing for me is to concentrate on batting. The decision I take as a batter, that is the best decision for me.”

During the 2023 season, Gill was in superb form, amassing 890 runs, but his first season as captain saw a dip in his run tally to 426, with his strike rate also dropping by 10% from 157.70 to 147.40. Despite this drop, Gill remains focused on improving his leadership and batting. He acknowledged that captaincy comes with its challenges, such as learning something new each day about his players and himself. He noted, “The most interesting and challenging thing as a captain is that every day, you learn something new, whether about a player or about yourself.”

Gill expressed gratitude for the support he received from Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki and head coach Ashish Nehra, who have played a key role in guiding him through strategic decisions. “The experience that I get here from Nehra and Vikram is immensely treasurable for me,” he said, recognizing the value of their mentorship in his evolution as a young leader.

Looking ahead, Gill remains optimistic about the team’s future. Despite the challenges of the previous season, he is confident in the team’s potential. “If you look at our record over the past three years, we have the highest percentage of wins,” Gill said, adding that performing away from home is just as crucial as performing at home. He remains focused on continuing the team’s success in the upcoming season, trusting that consistency will lead to another strong performance in 2025.

AM.