Shubman Gill is a quick learner and always wants to improve: Nehra

CHENNAI: Among the many queries India’s new head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed at a press conference on Monday, one thing was clear. They see Shubman Gill as a potential successor to Rohit Sharma. The indications were there when he was named as captain for Zimbabwe tour over Ruturaj Gaikwad, but it was confirmed on Monday as Gill was appointed vice-captain for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Now, since Rohit took over from Virat Kohli, the vice-captain role had little context to it. There was a time when India had named eight different vice-captains for different formats and series in a year. From KL Rahul to Rishabh Pant to Hardik Pandya to Jasprit Bumrah, every one of them has had the role and even captained on occasion. Going forward, however, the message is clear. Gill — despite not being the best T20I opener, despite not warranting a place on par in comparison with Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal — is now going to be groomed for the biggest job in Indian cricket. That he has established himself in two formats and has the potential to do the same in the third tipped the scales in his favour. “Shubman is the guy we feel, he’s a three format player. He seems to show a lot more qualities over the last year or so from the dressing room. That’s why we want to have somebody who can learn from the senior guys,” Agarkar had said.