Gill Can’t Lead Like Kohli—And He Shouldn’t Try To.
It may not be far-fetched to suggest that Shubman Gill is trying to channel elements of Virat Kohli — consciously or otherwise. Since being appointed Test skipper, Gill has moved to No. 4 in the batting order — a position where some of his finest knocks in the ongoing England series have come. But it’s not just about numbers. It’s about presence, posture, and persona.
His celebration at Edgbaston — the roar, the intensity — was unmistakably reminiscent of Kohli’s century at the same ground in 2018. The echo wasn’t just symbolic; it hinted at a possible shift in mindset.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing — unless it begins to interfere with one’s natural game. And right now, Gill’s cricket seems caught between expression and imitation.
Kohli thrived in the fire. The louder the chatter, the sharper his blade. But that brand of defiant, in-your-face aggression isn’t for everyone. With Gill, the worry is that in trying to mimic that template, he may be drifting away from his strengths — composure, timing, and quiet authority.
Before his first Test as captain, Gill had said he didn’t want to copy anyone’s style and would lead in his own way. But is that really what we’ve seen?
This version of Gill — more confrontational, more expressive — is a marked shift from the calm, technically assured batter who first arrived on the Test scene. And while evolution is natural for any cricketer, identity must remain intact. England, for one, have shown they’re more than willing to return fire. Ben Stokes made that abundantly clear on the final day at Lord’s.
History offers a lesson here. Even Virender Sehwag, one of India’s most destructive batters, initially tried to follow the Sachin Tendulkar model — until he broke free and found his own voice. That shift unlocked greatness. There’s a cautionary tale in that for Gill.
Did Gill’s Hostility Backfire?
Both Sanjay Manjrekar and Mohammad Kaif believe it did. Gill’s heated exchange with Zak Crawley on Day 3, they argue, only served to galvanize England — especially Ben Stokes.
“Gill suddenly looking tentative last evening had a lot to do with the hostility he got at the crease from England,” Manjrekar posted on X. “Virat performed better, the angrier he got. Dhoni is the exact opposite. Gill must decide what gets the best out of him as a batter — calmness or anger.”
Kaif echoed that sentiment: “Gill’s fight with Crawley charged England. It fired up Stokes, who bowled an inspired spell. It’s wise to stick to the attitude that works for you. Gill will learn this the hard way.”
Stuart Broad, too, weighed in on Sky Sports: “What would have fired Stokes up was the Indian team targeting Crawley. It was brilliant to watch, but he wouldn’t have liked one of his players being out there alone, with just Duckett for company.”
Gill, for his part, downplayed the impact of that passage of play.
“Five minutes can’t define five days of hard work,” he said after the match. “If you ask me about key moments, that wouldn’t even be in my top five. For us, Rishabh’s run-out was more crucial. At one point, we felt we could get a 50–100 run lead, which would’ve been massive on Day 5 when batting gets tough. That was a big turning point.”
But Stokes clearly didn’t see it that way — and his performance backed that up.
Find the Fire, But Stay True
Only time will tell whether Gill carves out a lasting identity as a Test captain. He’s shown courage and ambition — both essential — but the challenge now is to channel them authentically.
Trying to be Kohli might offer short-term buzz, but it could come at the cost of long-term consistency. Gill’s real test isn’t about replicating someone else’s fire. It’s about learning how to burn in his own way — steady, not scattered.
There are still two matches left in the series. A strong finish could silence critics — including this one. But regardless of the result, one thing is certain: India’s Test team doesn’t need another Kohli. It needs a Gill who knows exactly who he is.
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