Virat Kohli has backed Shubman Gill to grow into his role as India’s ODI captain, pointing out that the young leader is still learning but already has a clear approach to leading the team.
Kohli’s comments come ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against West Indies. The series will see Kohli and Rohit Sharma in action alongside captain Gill, who suffered a brief injury scare on Friday when he was struck on the elbow by a Mohammed Siraj delivery during a net session.
India will begin their three-match ODI series against West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27. The second ODI will be played in Guwahati on September 30, while the series will conclude with the third match in New Chandigarh on October 3.
All three matches are scheduled to begin at 2 PM. Gill will lead India in the series, while Kohli will be one of the senior figures in the batting lineup as India continue their preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill's injury scare came during Friday's training session in Thiruvananthapuram. A rising delivery from Siraj struck his right elbow, leaving the India captain in pain and forcing him to leave the nets for treatment.
He later returned to the session for throwdowns, easing some of the immediate concern ahead of the opening ODI.
Shubman, the captain, is still learning - Virat Kohli
Gill has often been viewed as the next-generation successor to senior Indian batters such as Kohli. With Shubman Gill now leading the ODI side while continuing to play alongside him, Virat Kohli acknowledged that the 27-year-old is still developing as a captain.
"Shubman, the captain, is still learning. He is still young in the role, but he has got the right perspective and the right kind of intensity to lead the Indian team. He (Gill) has his plans very clear in terms of how he looks at us operating in the field," Kohli said on JioStar.
Kohli also pointed out that captaincy is a role where experience can change the decisions a leader makes during matches.
"Of course, with more experience and understanding situations, the kind of calls you take are things that he will keep working on and improving, which everyone does in a leadership role," Kohli added.
What has changed is, firstly, I promised myself that I am going to play more freely - Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, who will turn 38 later this year, has continued to produce strong numbers in ODI cricket,. His 2026 ODI record currently stands at 384 runs from six innings, including a century and three fifties.
Since becoming a one-format international player, Virat Kohli has spoken about approaching his batting with greater freedom rather than being restricted by expectations or a specific role.
"What has changed is, firstly, I promised myself that I am going to play more freely. I am not going to worry about the expectations that people might have around me," Kohli said.
"My role had always been, for a long period of time, that I am going to stabilise things. I know I can play, I know I can hit shots. But the demands are such that if it is a tricky situation and you are playing on a tricky pitch, you eventually get into a space where you are like, I can hit, but I have been given a role," he added.
Virat Kohli also has several milestones within reach against West Indies. He currently has 14,941 ODI runs and needs 59 more to become only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 15,000.
Also Read: Virat Kohli’s Thiruvananthapuram ODI stats, records in sight vs WI
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