Shubman Gill has taken the cricketing world by storm with his stunning exploits in 2023. The stylish right-hander has already slammed five centuries this year, including a double ton in ODIs against New Zealand.

Gill will be next seen in action in the 2023 edition of Indian Premier League for defending champions Gujarat Titans.  

With almost a week to go for the cash-rich tournament, GT’s director of cricket Vikram Solanki has hailed Shubman as “smart cricketing brain” and tipped him to become the future captain of the IPL team.

While Hardik Pandya is set to continue as GT skipper in their second IPL season, Gill is also being seen as a leader within the core group.

“Shubman is a leader in his own right for the simple fact that he takes on a lot of responsibility. In my mind, it is not important that you play with an asterisk next to a player’s name,” Solanki told reporters during a virtual media session on Thursday (March 23).

“Shubman adapted the leadership role last year, by his conduct, by the way he goes about, with his professional attitude towards the game.”

In his maiden season for Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill amassed 432 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 132.32 with four half-centuries.

“Do I think that Shubman will be a leader in the future? Yes absolutely, but no decision has been made about that as yet. He has leadership qualities and is very mature who has an abundant amount of talent,” Solanki said.

“He has a very smart cricketing brain and we will continue to have conversations with Shubman and invite his opinion on every decision we make.”

As per the new IPL playing conditions issued by BCCI, “Each captain shall nominate 11 players plus a maximum of 5 substitute fielders in writing to the IPL Match Referee after the toss.”

Solanki feels the new rule will change dynamics of the IPL.

“We will just have to wait and see. It is going to be an interesting change to the dynamics, it might bring (forth) some tactical decisions to be made.

“But essentially the way we are looking at it at the moment is that you can name your eleven or a bigger squad of 15 after the toss and that has a different bearing on it.

“Initially we are starting to have discussions around it but it will bring an interesting dynamic to the IPL this year. It will be interesting to see how different teams adapt to the rule.”

Gujarat Titans will begin their campaign against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the tournament opener at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 31.

(With PTI Inputs)