'I will not rush him' - Former India selector Bhupinder Singh Sr opens up on talks surrounding Shubman Gill as Rohit Sharma's successor

Star India batter Shubman Gill is going through a golden period in his career. The 23-year-old has scored hundreds across all three formats in the first two months of 2023, which also includes a double-hundred in ODIs. Gill further plundered 890 runs in 17 innings in IPL 2023 and was awarded the coveted Orange Cap for finishing as the highest run scorer of the tournament.

With the talks of change in India’s leadership after 2023, with 36-year-old Rohit Sharma not getting any younger, Gill could potentially be India’s future captain. However, Bhupinder Singh Sr, who served as a selector from 2005 to 2008, feels that it’s too early to rush him into the position as he has the potential to be India’s next batting sensation.

“I will not rush him at this juncture because we want to see him as the next batting legend of the country. If things go well, which I am sure will, he can be the next batting sensation from this country. He has that game, aura and personality. In that process, later on, we can see him develop as a good captain also," Singh told Hindustan Times.

Singh further said that the youngster should first seal his spot in the team and then can be given the responsibility of leading.

“First thing is he should hold his place in the team whatever format you are picking him for. You are sure that for the next couple of years he will not be a liability in the team. The captain has to be able to pull his weight in the team," he added.

Gill impressed everyone in his debut Test series vs Australia

Notably, Gill made his international debut in an ODI against New Zealand in January 2019 but failed to impress as he got dismissed on 9 (21) against Trent Boult. He further made his Test debut against Australia during the historic Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21, where he scored 259 runs in six innings at an average of 51.80 with two fifties to his name.

The Punjab-born batter played a scintillating knock of 91 on the final day of the fourth Test at Gabba and helped India chase down the target of 328 in the fourth innings.