Aakash Chopra has said that India's new Test captain Shubman Gill can draw inspiration from Virat Kohli's captaincy as a new era begins for the team in the red-ball format. Kohli, who took over from MS Dhoni in 2014, with the team relatively filled with young and inexperienced players, rallied around the team and flourished as the leader in the years to come. Under Kohli's captaincy, India won every Test series for the next decade and was also a force to reckon with away from home.
Under Kohli, players like Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rishabh Pant flourished. Gill is also in the same position as Kohli was there when he took over Test captaincy. With the retirements of Ravi Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli, India has a relatively inexperienced squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
“You can take inspiration from Virat Kohli’s success, his hunger for runs, his leadership—but not necessarily his batting number,” said Aakash Chopra, speaking on JioStar. With Kohli not present, who will take the number four slot is up for debate. “That’s a very individual choice. Similarly, Shubman should play where he contributes best,” said Chopra after a few experts rooting for Shubman to take the number four slot in the future.
“Batting position isn’t about copying someone—it’s about where you fit in the team and how it benefits the side. Learn from Kohli’s mindset, and play with an extra bowler if needed. That’s what leaders do—make sacrifices for the team,” Chopra further stated.
Aakash Chopra suggests India should form a core leadership group to help Shubman Gill
The former India opener further stated that India should form a core leadership group and help Gill with decision-making. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Siraj are the names Chopra suggested for the leadership core.
“Form a leadership group—bring 4–5 players together and build a core. Include Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Create a pack of wolves. These are the guys who’ll be with you today, in six months, and five years down the line.”
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“With a young team, it’s important that the captain grows with the group. Seniors and juniors often have different routines and circles—but with this new-look team, you have a chance to build a collective culture. It’s a rare opportunity to create a bond and a story that the entire nation will be proud of,” he added.
The five-match Test series against England will be the first Test series for Gill-led India in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
