Former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has showered praise on the Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill for his consistency and adaptability. Notably, his comments came right after the first ODI against the West Indies.
It’s worth noting that Gill scored 110 off 108 balls in the first ODI at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on Sunday, September 27, including 13 fours and a six as India won by eight wickets in 41.4 overs.
“The special thing about Shubman is that he never overdoes things and never lets the bowler settle. He sticks to his plans, uses his skills to dominate, and enjoys batting in the middle. He came into the first ODI without much cricket since the England tour, but the rustiness didn’t affect him at all. That’s the mark of a quality player. What stood out was his ability to adapt. The West Indian pacers weren’t bowling with much pace, so he let the ball get older and adjusted his technique,” Nayar told JioStar.
“Once he did that, his shots started coming freely. Against the spinners, his use of his feet was brilliant, while against the pacers, he went deep in the crease to create room. Whether stepping out or going deep, he always found a way to score. That ability to adapt is why he is such a prolific run-scorer. His ODI average this year is 95.85, which shows how well he knows how to get runs. Once he gets through the initial phase, he becomes very difficult to bowl to. He has done that consistently throughout 2026,” he added.
Gill has taken over the leadership role from Rohit Sharma in late 2025 to lead the transition ahead of the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. He has captained India in 13 ODI matches, winning seven and losing six. He has maintained a 53.8% win percentage since his appointment.
