 "Abhinav Mukund has differed with BCCI’s plan to have Shubman Gill as India captain across formats. Image: AP")
Amid the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) push to have Shubman Gill as the all-format captain, former India opener Abhinav Mukund has spoken against the team having the same captain across three formats. While Gill has been made the captain in Tests and ODIs, replacing Rohit Sharma in both formats, he is also the vice-captain in T20Is.
The BCCI’s strategy under chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir is starkly different from what other major teams like Australia and England have been following. Most of the major teams have different captains across formats. For India, Suryakumar Yadav is currently leading the T20I side, but Gill is expected to succeed him after the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Abhinav Mukund wants split captaincy for India
Abhinav Mukund, who played seven Tests for India and has emerged as one of the popular broadcasters recently, feels Gill has what it takes to lead India in all three formats, but feels split captaincy is a better approach to keep players fresh and manage the expectations.
“I think Shubman has it in him to become an all-format captain, but I don’t think India should have an all-format captain anymore,” Mukund said on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan.
“Split captaincy is a smart move. Shubman Gill has been given the responsibility to take on the mantle in Tests and he will be under big pressure.”
He went on to highlight the pressure Gill would be facing as India’s Test captain in the series against South Africa at home, after the hosts lost 3-0 to New Zealand last year.
“This is a crucial series,” Mukund added, “and the England series was a big confidence booster for India.”
“At home, everyone expects India to win - no questions asked.”
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View AllFor the unversed, India suffered a 30-run loss in the first Test of the two-match series against England. Gill suffered a neck injury in the match and has been ruled out of the second Test at Guwahati .