Shubman Gill has been appointed as the captain of the Gujarat Titans for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, following the confirmation of Hardik Pandya’s trade to the Mumbai Indians. The decision comes after Hardik led the Titans to victory in 2022 and the final in 2023.
Originally acquired by the Gujarat Titans for Rs 7 crore in the IPL 2022 draft, Shubman Gill has witnessed a significant rise in his cricketing stature over the past two years. At the age of 24, he is set to become one of the youngest full-time captains in the IPL, with Virat Kohli being 22 when he took charge of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011.
Gill’s leadership role is supported by head coach Ashish Nehra, who has already proven himself as a capable mentor during his two-year association with Hardik Pandya.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Shubman Gill stated, “I am delighted and proud to assume the captaincy of Gujarat Titans and thank the franchise for their trust in me to lead such a fine team. We have had two exceptional seasons, and I keenly look forward to leading the team with our exciting brand of cricket.”
Vikram Solanki, the Director of Cricket for Gujarat Titans, praised Gill’s evolution as a cricketer and expressed excitement about the new journey with the young captain. Solanki highlighted Gill’s growth not only as a batsman but also as a leader, acknowledging his instrumental role in the team’s success in 2022 and a strong run in 2023.
While Shubman Gill lacks previous IPL captaincy experience, the Gujarat Titans are optimistic about his leadership capabilities, drawing parallels with the successful captaincy of Hardik Pandya, who exceeded expectations during his tenure with the team.
