ZIM v IND 2024: Shubman Gill on captaincy bringing best out of him - ‘It’s something I definitely enjoy’

Stand-in India captain for the Zimbabwe T20Is, Shubman Gill, said he enjoyed leading the team in the five-match series, as it brought the best out of his game. Guiding India to a 4-1 series win despite going down in the first match, Gill admitted that captaincy kept him involved in the game all the more, something he liked.

With all the first-team players rested for this five-match series, Gill was appointed captain while the selectors picked an emerging squad for the Zimbabwe tour. Managing and leading a newer set of cricketers, most he’s played with or against in the domestic or the IPL, Gill said, "It is something that I definitely enjoy.”

“I think it brings out the best in me when I am out there because I look to be involved in the game. It is something that really brings out the side of me which I enjoy being on the field,” Gill said after leading India to a 42-run win over Zimbabwe in the fifth and final T20I.

Gill had not captained any team on this level before this, and upon tasting success in his debut series, he admits that there was pressure, but he is glad to have dealt with it with ease, ending up on the winning side.

“There was pressure, I wouldn't say extra pressure, but obviously, even when you are playing just as a batsman when you don't perform, there is a certain kind of pressure that comes along with it,” Gill continued.

“But I think that's the fun part of it. You kind of feel so many different emotions. Pressure is one of them. And when you get out of that, the satisfaction that you feel is immense,” he added.

India’s massive bench strength

Indian cricket is ahead of its contemporaries on numerous grounds, with a massive bench strength being one. Despite the unavailability of most T20 World Cup-bound players, India won an away series convincingly, reflecting the sea of talented cricketers waiting in the wing for their chances.

Speaking of leading such a talented bunch of cricketers, Gill said, "To be able to lead such phenomenal talented players who I have had the pleasure to play with or against at some stage in age-group cricket or Under-19 or at the India level, it just feels very amazing."

"When you have played against or with so many of the players... I think almost, with everyone I have played against or with at some age-group level, it definitely makes my job easier because I understand them at a player level and I understand them as a person as well."

"So many talented players, so many players coming up and it is really fun to be able to play alongside them when I am at the non-striker's end," Gill added.

Team India will now travel to Sri Lanka for the white-ball series, including three T20Is and as many ODIs, the squads of which are yet to be announced.

(With inputs from agencies)