indian opener Shubman Gill has entered an unenviable list of Indian captains after losing his first two One Day Internationals (ODIs) as skipper.
Shubman Gill’s ODI captaincy debut got off to a rocky start
With back-to-back losses against Australia in the ongoing bilateral series, Gill has become the sixth Indian captain to begin his ODI leadership spell with back-to-back losses. The list includes notable names like Dilip Vengsarkar and KL Rahul, who also faced similar challenges early in their careers as captains.
Gill, who took charge of India’s ODI from Rohit Sharma, faced a tough test from the start. India suffered a seven-wicket defeat in Perth, followed by a two-wicket defeat in Adelaide, marking their first defeat at the Adelaide Oval in 17 years.
India falters despite all-out fighting in Adelaide
In the second ODI, India posted a total of 264/9, with Gill contributing modestly after scoring just 9 runs in the opening match. However, the total was insufficient since Matt Short and Cooper Connolly led Australia’s chase calmly and composedly, taking them over the line with overs to spare.
Gill’s debut as captain has drawn attention not only for the defeats but also for the missed opportunities on the field that cost India dearly. Fielding errors, including three dropped catches, one by the dangerous Matt Short, allowed Australia to maintain control throughout the chase.
Reflecting on the loss, Gill admitted the team’s shortcomings, saying: “It’s never easy when you miss a couple of chances and try to defend that kind of total. We were 15 to 20 runs short and we couldn’t capitalize on key moments.”
Junk list: Indian captains who lost first two ODIs
Shubman Gill now finds himself in rare company among Indian captains who faced early difficulties in ODI captaincy. The list includes:
- Ajit Wadekar
- Dilip Vengsarkar
- Kris Srikkanth
- Mohammad Azharuddin
- KL Rahul
All five previously suffered double defeats at the start of their careers as ODI captains. Gill now becomes the sixth Indian leader to undergo this tough initiation, a reminder that even some of India’s most iconic names have stumbled before finding their footing.
Gill’s batting record remains promising despite initial captaincy woes
Despite these early setbacks as captain, Gill’s batting form has been nothing short of exceptional. The young opener has already scored over 1,500 international runs this year, including several centuries in different formats. He also led India to success during his brief spell as Test captain earlier in the year, winning praise for his calm demeanor and tactical maturity.
Gill’s immediate focus will now be on turning around India’s fortunes in the third and final ODI, where a win could prevent a series whitewash and boost his confidence as a leader.
Also WATCH: Mitchell Starc takes stunning boundary catch to dismiss Axar Patel in Adelaide ODI
The pressure and promise of Indian captaincy
Captaincy in Indian cricket has always been accompanied by intense scrutiny and expectations. History shows that early failures do not define a leader’s legacy: Ajit Wadekar, Mohammad Azharuddin and others eventually built successful captaincy careers despite their poor starts.
For Gill, these early challenges may well serve as a valuable learning curve. With youth and experience on his side and an already impressive record as a batsman, the Punjab lad will have to rethink and refine his strategies to cement his place as the next long-term leader of Indian cricket.
As the three-match series nears its end, fans and pundits will be watching the upcoming game in Sydney to see if Gill can engineer a comeback, not just for India, but for his own leadership journey.
Also READ: AUS vs IND: Fans criticize Anushka Sharma as Virat Kohli records successive ducks for the first time in his ODI career
