While Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s elevation to captaincy had come on expected lines, with both players groomed for the role for a long time, Shubman Gill’s elevation to the top job had sparked debate as he was made captain ahead of the likes of Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah but Salil Ankola, a former selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed that the call was made in 2023, two years before he took charge of the team.
Ankola revealed that the call was a collective one and one that was taken based on suggestions from everyone, including former captain and coach Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, as well as other senior players. Ankola claimed that Gill’s stunning display in England was vindication for the call.
“We always thought Gill would become the captain. We had thought about him right from 2023 that he would take the reins in his hand. Selectors do take suggestions, I am saying it again, not only from the coach and captain, but there are other senior players. They also thought he is the right guy. Even those who have retired earlier.
“It is a collective decision. Everyone felt it, and he proved it in England. Everyone felt it, and he proved it in England. What a series he had. In such pressure, if he scores 750 runs in England, that shows his mental capacity. People will tell someone else should have been captain, bring someone back. Human is a very unsatisfied soul. Whatever good you do, they will find something bad in it. People think like they know everything,” said Ankola in an interaction on Vicky Lalwani’s Youtube channel.
For those unversed, Ankola was part of the Indian men’s senior team selection committee from January 2023 to August 2024. He played one Test and 20 ODIs for India.