ODI series: Is new deputy Shubman Gill now ready to lead by example?

It’s difficult to say whether the vice-captaincy in ODIs has spurred Shubman Gill’s current form in the three-match series against England, but it has made for a happy coincidence in Indian cricket. His seventh century in this format at the Narendra Modi Stadium — a polished innings of 112 — was the cornerstone of a mammoth total by the hosts, who have already ensured themselves of the series.

Gill finished the series as the top scorer on either side, with an aggregate of 259 from three innings but more importantly, with a consistency that the 25-year-old will cherish ahead of what will be his first brush with the ICC Champions Trophy. The sequence of his scores were awe-inspiring, with 87, 60 and 112, though it has to be added in the same breath that the wickets at all three venues were tailormade for stroke-makers.

His century on Wednesday also saw him touch a slew of landmarks, becoming the fifth batter to hit centuries in all three formats at the same venue. Gill also became the fastest to reach 2,500 ODI runs in his 50th match, bettering Hashim Amla's feat of 51 matches.  

There are not too many sights more pleasing in world cricket than the likes of the current top Indian batters on song in the white-ball format where the ball was coming on to the bat and not doing much off the wicket. If the spotlight was on Gill, who by next Wednesday might again become the no. 1 ranked batter in ICC ODI rankings, equally significant was master batter Virat Kohli raking up a timely half-century, and Shreyas Iyer showing he could be a major cog in the wheel at the upcoming event at the crucial number four position.

The two century partnerships that Gill starred in, first with Kohli and then Iyer, were perfect templates of innings-building in the 50-over game. After Mark Wood struck early when he exposed the vulnerability of Rohit Sharma outside off-stump again, his deputy took his time against the new ball before slowly increasing the tempo and going on the attack.

After nearly six years in international cricket, the 25-year-old must have realised that his true calling lies in the longer format and ODIs, even though he has made fleeting appearances in the T20 format and has also established himself as a bankable star in the IPL. He won the Orange Cap for being the highest scorer in IPL 2023 and is now the captain of Gujarat Titans, but he takes to the two other formats like fish to water.  

Incidentally, this is the second time Gill has found this kind of clinical consistency just before an ICC tournament. He did the same ahead of the 2023 World Cup, the year when he became the youngest Indian batter to score a double century in ODIs (against New Zealand at home) but his momentum was disrupted when he was diagnosed with dengue and had to miss a few early matches. He ended that season with five ODI hundreds nevertheless, and if the early indications hold true, a fruitful 2025 may be round the corner.

By the time the next 50-over World Cup comes up in 2027, Gill will be nearly 27, and one feels he should the captain incumbent for both Tests and ODIs. After being heralded as the heir apparent to take over the mantle of being the top gun from the Big Two, Gill has now reached the crunch time in his career with a certain Yashasvi Jaiswal pushing him.

 He needs to raise the bar higher from here, and a key to that is being able to perform under all conditions.