Shubman Gill candid about new challenges in IND vs AUS ODIs; Indian captain admits 'big shoes for me to fill'

Indian captain Shubman Gill admitted he has “big shoes to fill” as the Men in Blue begin a new era in the 50-over format against Australia, the first of which begins on October 19 in Perth. After taking over the Test captaincy from Rohit Sharma, the BCCI gave Gill another responsibility when the 25-year-old was announced as the new ODI captain last month. The India vs Australia ODI series marks the start of the preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup for both the teams. The series also marks the return of former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who make a return to the Indian dressing room after seven months. Speaking for the first time since taking over the ODI captaincy from Rohit, Gill admitted that the challenge will be tough and will not shy away from seeking their help during the series. “These are the kind of players I used to idolize growing up,” Gill told reporters in Perth on Saturday. Australian captain Mitchell Marsh and India’s Shubman Gill (R) pose with the one-day series trophy in Perth. “The kind of hunger they used to inspire me. It is a great honor for me to be able to lead such legends of the game. I am sure there will be so many moments in this series where I will be able to learn from them. “When I get into a difficult position, I will not hesitate to take advice from them. Big shoes for me to fill in carrying forward the legacy of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. So many experiences and so many learnings I’ve had,” Gill added. Talks with Virat & Rohit: Gill Gill also revealed that he has already had numerous discussions with both Rohit and Kohli about how to take the Indian team forward. “I’ve had numerous discussions with both Rohit and Virat about how to take the team forward and what kind of culture they want for the Indian cricket team. I think those learnings and experiences will help our team going forward,” added the young Indian captain. Having led Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the past two seasons, Gill knows what it takes to lead a team at the highest level. In his first series as India captain, Gill led India to a 2-2 draw in England in Tests, before claiming his first whitewash in the 20-series win at home. recently. It should be noted that Gill did not let the pressure of captaincy affect his batting with five hundreds in his seven matches as Indian captain. After the ODI series, India will play five T20Is Down Under as a build-up to the T20 World Cup 2026.