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‘Not a Born Leader Yet’: Shubman Gill Gets Honest Reality Check Despite India’s Dominant Afghanistan Sweep
Shubman Gill led India to a 3-0 ODI series win and bagged Player of the Series, but former cricketer Manoj Tiwary believes his leadership journey is only just beginning.
India may have cruised to a commanding 3-0 ODI series sweep against Afghanistan, but despite the flawless result, questions around Shubman Gill’s captaincy continue to spark debate.
The young Indian skipper had plenty to celebrate after leading the side to his first ODI series win as captain while also emerging as the Player of the Series with an impressive 238 runs across three matches.
However, former India batter Manoj Tiwary has offered a blunt but balanced assessment of Gill’s leadership, saying the opener is “not a born leader yet.”
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Tiwary acknowledged Gill’s success but made it clear that leadership is a skill that still needs time to develop.
“This series went well for him as captain. The more series he captains, the better he will get. He isn’t a ‘born leader’ yet, but he will learn,” Tiwary said.
He explained that some captains naturally possess leadership instincts, while others grow into the role through experience.
According to Tiwary, Gill belongs to the second category — a player who will improve with time and guidance.
That’s where senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul become crucial.
Tiwary stressed that having experienced leaders around Gill can accelerate his growth as captain.
“The mistakes that they made during their captaincy, they will not let him repeat them,” he added.
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The former cricketer also pointed out that leading a team filled with established stars reduces the pressure, allowing Gill to focus on learning the finer aspects of captaincy.
The Afghanistan series was especially important for Gill after facing criticism earlier this year following ODI series defeats against Australia and New Zealand, where fans and experts questioned his tactical decisions.
This clean sweep, however, has given the 26-year-old some breathing room and confidence moving forward.
While Gill’s leadership remains under the microscope, his batting form has been impossible to ignore. His 238-run tally showcased maturity, consistency, and authority at the crease — qualities India will hope continue in bigger challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, India are set to welcome back Virat Kohli for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, provided he clears his fitness tests.
Kohli missed the Afghanistan series due to a hamstring injury sustained during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title defence. The former captain is expected to report to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for a fitness assessment.
His return could prove valuable not just for India’s batting strength, but also for guiding Gill through the demanding role of captaincy.
For now, Gill has delivered results. But as Tiwary’s comments suggest, the bigger leadership test may still lie ahead.
