IPL 2024: Shubman Gill named GT captain

A day after the Gujarat Titans traded Hardik Pandya to the Mumbai Indians, Shubman Gill has been named captain. Gill will take on the role of captain for the first time in the IPL for the 2024 season after Hardik led the Titans in 2022 and 2023.

"I am delighted and proud to assume the captaincy of Gujarat Titans and thank the franchise for their trust in me to lead such a fine team," Gill said in a statement. "We have had two exceptional seasons and I keenly look forward to leading the team with our exciting brand of cricket."

The 24-year-old Gill was released prior to the 2022 auction after beginning his IPL career with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018. The Titans, a new IPL franchise, were permitted to sign up to three players at that time. They did so by paying INR 7 crore to Gill and INR 15 crore to each of Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan.

In 16 games, Gill scored 483 runs in total, bringing the Titans to victory in their first season with an undefeated 45 against the Rajasthan Royals. With 890 runs in 17 innings, including three hundreds, he was their best run scorer in the 2023 Indian Premier League, a season in which Titans finished second behind CSK in the final game.

Behind KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, and Faf du Plessis as the highest run scorers in the IPL over the past six years, Gill is now ranked fifth. He will be the leader of a strong Titans’ lineup that includes a number of seasoned players like Matthew Wade, Rashid Khan, David Miller, Kane Williamson, and Wriddhiman Saha. In the past, he has captained Indian domestic teams in the Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy, giving him some experience as a leader.

The Titans director of cricket, said: "Shubman Gill has shown growth in stature and standing over the last two years at the highest level of the game. We've seen him mature not only as a batter but also as a leader in cricket. His contribution on the field has helped Gujarat Titans emerge as a formidable force, guiding the team through a successful campaign in 2022 and a strong run in 2023.

"His maturity and skill is evident in his on-field performance and we are extremely excited to embark on a new journey with a young leader like Shubman at the helm."