Sourav Ganguly bats for Shubman Gill to be India's captain in all three formats

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has defended Shubman Gill’s defense at Eden Gardens. When Ganguly was asked whether Gill should be India’s T20I captain, true to his signature style, the former great's answer was unequivocal-"Gill should be the captain of everything because he’s so good.”

Ganguly reminded the questioner that only three months ago, Gill had led a young Indian side in England without Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma looking absolutely “gold” with both the bat and the captain’s armband. And yet, in just a few months, public perception had shifted from celebration to doubt.

The heart of Ganguly’s remark lay in that rapid flip of the narrative. In a recent interaction, Ganguly expressed his frustration with how impatient the cricketing ecosystem has become with emerging leaders.

By calling Gill “captain of everything,” Ganguly was essentially making a case for patience. He elaborated: “The other day I was sitting at Eden Gardens, and somebody came and asked me, ‘Do you think Shubman Gill should be captain of T20I?’ I said, ‘He should be captain of everything because he’s so good.’ Three months ago, that fellow was in England, looking like gold—batting brilliantly, leading a young team without Kohli or Rohit. And now, in three months, people are asking questions. That’s the mindset of people. When someone makes decisions all the time, you have to be patient. You have to allow someone to grow.”

Also Read: Does Shubman Gill really deserve a place in India's T20 team?

Ganguly wasn’t merely praising a young batter; he was criticising the constant churn around him. His point was clear: one quarter of the year, Gill is celebrated as a shining star and a promising leader; a few months later, the same environment hunts for flaws. Ganguly’s broader warning is that if captains are evaluated in such short cycles, they will never have the chance to truly grow into their roles.

Everything he said tied back to his own experience leading India—selecting players to succeed, not to fail, and accepting their mistakes as part of their journey. Leaders cannot be questioned every few weeks and simultaneously expected to make calm, confident decisions.