Being named captain of India is often seen as a badge of honour, but for Shubman Gill, it came with a barrage of criticism. Right from the start of his Test captaincy, the whispers turned into headlines. People weren’t exactly kind. The Shubman Gill’s captaincy criticism took over social media and press columns alike. Was he too young? Too raw? Could he handle the pressure of leadership? Now, as the new ODI captain of India, the spotlight’s only getting hotter. But if his England Test tour is anything to go by, Gill knows how to let his bat, and demeanour, do the talking.

Silencing Critics, One Ton at a Time

Gill didn’t just captain India in England; he led from the front, scoring a remarkable 754 runs in five Tests. That included four centuries, one of which was a double hundred. He didn’t flinch, complain, or lash out. He just smiled and played. Gautam Gambhir, now India’s head coach, took notice. Speaking to Star Sports, Gambhir said:

“I hope it does become easier for him, because he deserves it. He has faced a lot of criticism; people have said many things, and some of it has been unfair. Sometimes you pick a player based on potential. You can’t expect a 24-year-old to always average 50 or score runs consistently across the world — that happens over time. Given his potential, I wasn’t surprised he scored 750 runs in England.”

And about the way Gill carried himself through the series, Gambhir added:

“But more than that, I was impressed with the way he led the team. During the tour, I was under pressure, the support staff was under pressure, but more than anyone, he was under pressure. In those 25 days, there wasn’t a single moment he showed frustration or stress. He led the team with a smile through 25 days of intense cricket.”

In short, the Shubman Gill’s captaincy criticism started loud, but ended in respectful silence.

Gambhir’s Brutally Honest First Talk

When Gill was first handed the Test captaincy, Gautam Gambhir didn’t sugarcoat anything. He told the youngster exactly how steep the climb was going to be. Reflecting on that first conversation, Gambhir said:

“I do remember. I remember the entire conversation. Picking a 25-year-old to captain a Test side, I told him one thing very clearly: ‘We have thrown you in a deep sea. From here, there are only two paths — you may drown or you’ll become a world-class swimmer.’ For me, the 750 runs in England don’t matter as much as the way a 25-year-old, in his first Test series as captain, handled himself, the team, and the pressure.”

This wasn’t just about runs. It was about composure, maturity, and leadership. And what did Gambhir tell Gill after the series concluded?

“I told him after the Oval Test, ‘You have passed your most difficult test. The transition is over. From here, things will become easier.”

High praise from a man not known for being overly sentimental.

“I Will Protect Him”: Gambhir’s Public Pledge

Now, with Gill stepping up as the new ODI captain of India, the challenge expands. But so does the coach’s commitment to his young skipper. Speaking openly about his protective stance, Gautam Gambhir said:

“I have always told him one thing: I will always be there to back him and protect him. My job is to take the pressure off him, I am ready to take all the criticism for him till the time he is doing all the right things for the team, till the time he is absolutely transparent and honest with the players in the dressing room. That’s the only way to earn respect.”

He continued:

“So far, he has been brilliant, transparent, he has been upfront. He has said the right things, done the right things. He has worked extremely hard. He has ticked all the boxes. What more can a coach ask from a captain who has ticked all the right boxes?”

With the Shubman Gill’s captaincy criticism quieting down, this show of support couldn’t have come at a better time.

Related Article：Shubman Gill’s Captaincy Criticism：Fair or Unfair?

The Road Ahead

Gill has scored 966 runs in Tests this calendar year. As he leads India into a new ODI chapter, his task is to take this success forward into white-ball cricket. He’ll captain India in the upcoming ODI series against Australia, the first steps in preparing him for the 2027 World Cup in Africa.

Team India Head coach Gautam Gambhir has pledged unwavering support for new ODI captain Shubman Gill 👏#TeamIndia #GautamGambhir #ShubmanGill #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/bmFfaebvHv

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) October 11, 2025

He’ll be tested again form will dip, critics will reappear, but with Gautam Gambhir watching his back and guiding him forward, there’s reason to believe this young leader will rise each time. And as the new ODI captain of India, he’ll have plenty of chances to prove once again that Shubman Gill’s captaincy criticism was always premature.