There’s no denying that Virat Kohli raised the bar sky-high as a Test captain—so high, in fact, that no one has quite matched him yet, whether in success or in certain frustrations. His aggressive, passionate style defined an era of Indian Test cricket.
Now, all eyes are on the young skipper Shubman Gill, who seems to be following Kohli’s captaincy blueprint to the letter. From leading with fire to being a top run-scorer wielding the iconic MRF bat, Gill appears to be borrowing pages straight from Kohli’s playbook—possibly to win over Kohli’s loyal fanbase.
In many ways, it’s working. Gill is embracing leadership with confidence, even mimicking Kohli’s animated presence on the field. But the similarities don’t end there. Just like Kohli during his latter Test days, Gill has also become familiar with frustrating outside edges and unfortunate runouts.
While the comparison invites both admiration and amusement, there’s a cautionary tale in blindly following a legend. Gill must remember that while Kohli’s leadership inspired many victories, it also came with its share of challenges. Imitation may be a form of respect, but the new captain must carve out his own identity before the mimicry becomes a burden to the team.
