Shikhar Dhawan hails Shubman Gill, backs Mumbai Indians for sixth IPL title win

Veteran Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has thrown his full support behind rising star Shubman Gill, calling him the perfect choice to lead India in Test cricket. Gill, who once opened the innings alongside Dhawan in One Day Internationals, is set to begin a new chapter in his career as he takes over the reins from Rohit Sharma to become India's 37th Test captain.

The 25-year-old will debut as the red-ball skipper during India's upcoming five-match Test series against England – a high-stakes assignment that marks a significant moment in the transition of leadership within Indian cricket.

Speaking about the decision, Dhawan was all praise for Gill's evolution as a cricketer. "I feel it's a great choice," Dhawan said. "Shubman has performed really well in the IPL recently. He is a great talent and has matured – he’s been playing for the Indian team for several years now."

The left-handed opener, who has witnessed Gill’s development from close quarters, emphasised the youngster’s readiness to shoulder the responsibility of leading India in the longest format of the game. "I feel he’s the perfect candidate to take on the Test captaincy, and I’m sure he will handle it well and lead the team together. This is the new generation now – Gen Z – and I’m confident he’ll do a great job. All my best wishes to him," Dhawan added.

Gill's leadership journey begins under the spotlight, with expectations sky-high as Indian fans look forward to a new era of red-ball cricket. Known for his composure, elegant stroke play, and cricketing intellect, Gill’s elevation has been seen as a strategic move to secure the future of India's Test legacy.

Dhawan backs Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025 triumph

Apart from his thoughts on the Test captaincy, Dhawan also weighed in on the ongoing IPL 2025 season, expressing his support for the Mumbai Indians (MI) to lift the trophy once again. MI, five-time champions and one of the most successful franchises in IPL history, have been gaining significant momentum in the latter half of the tournament.

“This time, the IPL has been very exciting. For the finals, my support will be with Mumbai Indians,” Dhawan stated. “The Mumbai Indians team is playing really well – they are very balanced. The way they've gained momentum is outstanding, and they are a very strong and well-balanced team. So, I'm with Mumbai Indians.”

Mumbai Indians bolstered their title hopes by defeating Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator on May 30 in Mullanpur. Their 20-run victory has propelled them into Qualifier 2, where they will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 1. PBKS, led by Shreyas Iyer, suffered a comprehensive eight-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1.