Will Captaincy Affect Shubman Gill's Batting? Cheteshwar Pujara Doesn’t Think So

India vs England: Cheteshwar Pujara backs Shubman Gill to shine as India’s captain on challenging English conditions

Interview with Cheteshwar Pujara

(Photo: BCCI)

The impact of captaincy on a batter’s performance is a case study in contrast. Historical precedents show that leadership can either elevate a cricketer’s batting, or weigh it down. There is no one-size-fits-all. Two players, similar in style and stature, can have drastically different responses to the responsibility.

Take the elegant southpaws, for example. That is, West Indies’ Brian Lara and India’s Sourav Ganguly. The latter, despite being hailed as among the nation’s most audacious leaders in this sport, saw his batting numbers taking a dip after assuming leadership responsibilities. Lara, on the contrary, had some of his most prolific phases with the bat whilst being the West Indies’ skipper.

Similar dualities abound in cricketing history. Michael Clarke and Graeme Smith. Mark Taylor and Graham Gooch. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar.

Which brings us to the pressing question — will captaincy affect the batting of India’s newest Test skipper, Shubman Gill? Set to lead the Indian Test team at just 25, Gill enters the five-match series against England starting June 20 at Headingley with 32 Tests, 1893 runs, and five centuries to his name. But he also enters a new chapter — that of captaincy — which comes with different demands.

‘I Don’t Think Captaincy Will Affect Shubman Gill’

According to former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara, Gill is well-equipped to handle the pressure of captaincy. Responding to a question from The Quint in an interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster of India tour of England, he said:

I don’t think captaincy will affect Shubman Gill. I’d say it will definitely motivate him. But at the same time, it's a different role altogether when you're leading a team and when you're batting. It requires a different kind of concentration. Your batting doesn’t really change whether you’re a leader or not. But yes, he will be very motivated to perform well in overseas conditions.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Former Indian Cricketer

Albeit the sample size is merely of three Tests, Gill’s worst Test average is in England — 14.66, having scored 88 runs across those three games, with his highest score being 28.

Pujara, though, is backing him to come good.

If you look at Shubman’s journey — he started really well in Australia when he made his debut. But after that, he hasn’t had much success in overseas conditions. England will present a challenge, but I’m sure a young player like Shubman has the potential to be a good leader — and a good batter too.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Former Indian Cricketer

Pujara also believes the Indian support system, led by his former teammate Gautam Gambhir, should do all they can to alleviate the pressure off Gill’s shoulders.

The role of the Indian support staff will be crucial. With a young leader, the people around him — the coaches, analysts, the support system — they need to give him consistent feedback, the right data, venue-specific inputs. The entire support system becomes very important when you have a young captain.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Former Indian Cricketer

‘Not Many Similarities Between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli’

Beyond the numerical narratives — what brand of captaincy can the Indian fans expect from Shubman Gill? If the Indian Premier League (IPL) can be used as a parameter, one might say that fans will have the opportunity to reminisce the recently retired Virat Kohli, for whilst leading Gujarat Titans, Gill deployed an aggressive brand of captaincy in that competition.

Pujara, having shared dressing rooms with both, offers a nuanced take:

Talking about similarities between Virat and Shubman — honestly, I don’t think there are many. But what matters is that Shubman must stick to his strengths. He is mature enough to understand what’s required of him — both as a leader and as a batter. He’s very calm and composed. I’ve seen how he’s led in the IPL — he knows what he’s doing. When you have that clarity, it helps a lot.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Former Indian Cricketer

‘England Are the Favourites, but Don’t Count India Out’

India enters this series with a new-look team. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having bid farewell to the longest format, and Jasprit Bumrah expected to play only three of the five Tests, the spotlight is on the youth. The odds favour England, but Pujara suggests counting India out is risky.

Yes, England are a stronger side at the moment — they have a bit more experience compared to our team. But does that mean India can't win? Definitely not. This young Indian team has a golden opportunity ahead of them to win a series. Let me take you back to 2020–21, when we toured Australia. Several senior players were missing, and after being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, no one gave us a chance. But that team fought back and won the series. This is a similar phase — a transitional moment — where many young players will be playing in England for the first time, perhaps even making their debut. It’s a huge chance for them to showcase their talent and prove that they belong at this level. Yes, it will be tough. Even for experienced players, scoring runs in England is never easy. But I genuinely believe this group has the talent to rise to the challenge.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Former Indian Cricketer

Pujara signs off with a message that hints at shared responsibility — and a collective vision.

Honestly, it won’t be easy. Even if we win a Test match, it’ll take a lot of effort to win the series — the team will have to work hard to earn every bit of that success. Everyone has to contribute — not just on the field, but also in terms of preparation, strategy, and mindset. Even though Shubman is captain, the senior players — someone like KL, or Jasprit, or Rishabh — will have to guide him at different stages. Their experience will be crucial in shaping the team’s journey.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Former Indian Cricketer

(The five-match Test series between India and England can be seen live on Sony Sports Network).