Shahrukh Khan and Shubman Gill play together at Gujarat Titans, where the latter took over as captain in 2024 following Hardik Pandya’s exit from the franchise. Gill’s leadership has extended beyond the IPL, as he was named India’s Test captain for the 2025 tour of England after Rohit Sharma retired from the longest format. His journey from franchise captain to international leadership has been closely observed by teammates.
Shahrukh Khan rates Gill’s captaincy highly and has spoken about what makes the Gujarat Titans skipper effective in his role. Khan appreciates Gill’s calm and collected demeanor, which he believes translates effectively into his tactical approach. Khan notes that Gill’s meticulous batting preparation resonates with his captaincy style, creating a foundation for his decision-making on the field.
“Shubman is a very calm and collected player. He prepares so meticulously for his batting, and that resonates with his captaincy as well. He’s got plans and so many options in his head to rotate the bowlers and set fields,” Shahrukh told RevSportz in an interview.
“He started off as a captain for GT and then went on to captain the Test side for the country. His growth from the IPL to the international level has been a tremendous sign,” he added.
Gill was later appointed captain of the ODI team, once again replacing Rohit Sharma. The Punjab batter will be integral to India’s chances of doing well at the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Gujarat Titans’ team environment and support structure
Beyond individual tactical acumen, Khan values Gujarat Titans’ approach to maintaining team cohesion. The franchise’s team management maintains a happy environment among players, which Khan credits as contributing to good performances. Khan appreciates GT’s support staff relationships and the way the organisation keeps players together, creating a foundation for consistent team performance.
Also Read – As captains, Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill are like North Pole and South Pole: Ashish Nehra
“The way they keep the players together and maintain a happy environment – that’s the reason you see so many good performances. You want to play a good brand of cricket, and having so many support staff members you are comfortable with helps. They build that relationship with you,” Shahrukh said.
