'HE HAS LEADERSHIP SKILLS': SABA KARIM ON SHUBMAN GILL'S CAPTAINCY, NAMEDROPS HARDIK PANDYA AS NEXT T20I SKIPPER
While Rohit Sharma-led Indian team were celebrating their T20 World Cup triumph with millions on the streets of Mumbai on Thursday, a young look Men in Blue were sweating it out in the nets to face Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series, starting from 6 July.
Shubman Gill will be leading the new-look T20I side in Zimbabwe, with BCCI choosing to go with a plethora of fresh faces including the likes of Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, and Tushar Deshpande among others.
While Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from T20I cricket after India's historic T20 World Cup triumph, it remains to be seen who BCCI will pick as the next captain, with Hardik Pandya, the vice-captain a hot favourite.
Related News |While discussing Hardik Pandya's credentials of captaining India in T20Is after Rohit's retirement, former India cricketer Saba Karim said that it is more than obvious that Pandya is best suited for the leadership role given he has been leading the Indian team in the shortest format.
While BCCI have turned to Shubman Gill for the Zimbabwe tour, Karim a former national selector himself, said that while it's too early to hand over the reins to Gill just yet, he is looked at as a three-format player and he will be groomed further.
Related News |"Potential yes but at this stage I think it’s very early for the selectors to actually decide who can be the captain in the years to come. There are a number of aspirants, Hardik Pandya right now is the vice-captain, and I think with Rohit’s departure it is more than obvious that Pandya will take up the reins," Karim told SportsNow in a select media interaction.
"But yes I think the Indian selectors have always looked at Shubman Gill as an all-format player and they feel he does have the required leadership skills to take the team forward, that is why this Zimbabwe series will be quite exciting for Gill not only as a batter but also as a captain," he added.
Virat Kohli was the first to announce his retirement from T20I cricket, and he was followed suit by Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. That opens up quite a few slots in the senior team, which will be up for grabs. With the Zimbabwe tour being an audition for the youngsters, Saba Karim said that there are many among the current lot who have what it takes to fill in the boots of Rohit and Virat.
"I think most of them are suited to this, I think international cricket is a different challenge altogether. I think all such cricketers who are in the fray if they can prepare well and execute the plans of the management, I’m sure they will take time," said the 57-year-old.
He continued, "There are so many hopefuls, be it Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Gill, or Abhishek Sharma, there are 3-4 slots open right now, the two openers plus the number 3. All three four names I’ve taken can stake a claim."
With plenty of new faces to choose from, Saba Karim said that he was impressed by the intent showed by Abhishek Sharma in the IPL, while Riyan Parag is also another player who can cause quite a stir in India's jersey.
"There are so many of them who have already made their mark on the national level, Rinku Singh, Shubman, Ruturaj Gaikwad, all of them have done well. I am quite excited to see Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag. Because Abhishek, the kind of form he’s shown in IPL, he gives me the impression that he understands the template of T20 cricket as a top order," said the veteran.
He stated further, "Then Riyan Parag in the middle has arguably the maximum power, that's the kind of approach or momentum you need in the middle order. That’s why I’m looking forward to see some stellar performances from these two cricketers."
2024-07-05T09:17:57Z dg43tfdfdgfd