Kolkata, Sep 8: Shubman Gill is still learning the nuances of captaincy and has plenty of room to grow as a leader, Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra
said, while refusing to rule out the possibility of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli featuring for India at the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Cricket Association of Bengal's annual awards ceremony, Nehra drew a sharp contrast between Gill and former Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya. While both took up captaincy without extensive leadership experience, Nehra believes Gill's relatively reserved personality should not be mistaken for a lack of willingness to learn.
Gill took over as Gujarat Titans captain after Pandya's departure and led the franchise to the IPL final in the 2025 season. He has since taken on an even bigger leadership responsibility with India, becoming the Test and ODI captain.
'Gill is a work in progress'
Nehra said Gill's development as a captain will be a gradual process, particularly given that he has only had limited experience leading at the highest level. "He is only going to get better," Nehra said, while comparing Gill with Pandya.
The former India pacer described Pandya as someone who was highly communicative and openly sought feedback, while Gill is more reserved but equally interested in learning.
"Shubman is a little reserved, a little shy, but that's okay. Everyone is different. There is no right or wrong," Nehra said.
According to Nehra, Gill may not engage in as many conversations as Pandya did, but he tends to be precise and observant. "He is somebody who is very keen to learn and keen to observe," Nehra added.
Nehra stressed that Gill's age and relatively short captaincy experience need to be taken into account.
"He is only 26-27, and it is not that he has been doing captaincy for so many years. It is only 1-2 seasons, and you learn things and you will get better," he said.
Nehra refuses to close the door on Rohit and Kohli
While Gill represents the future of Indian cricket leadership, Nehra was unwilling to make any definitive prediction about whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will still be part of India's ODI plans for the 2027 World Cup.
The next 50-over World Cup will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, by which time Rohit will be 40 and Kohli 39. However, Nehra believes it is far too early to make a call on their availability.
"We have seen, not in Indian cricket but in any sport, that even 2-3 weeks before, things change," he said.
Nehra's point was simple: if the two senior batters continue to perform at the required level, age alone should not determine their selection.
"If they are doing well, if they are performing, why not?" he said.
He also pointed to the unpredictable nature of selection decisions in international sport, saying it would be difficult to make a definitive assessment with more than a year still to go before the 2027 World Cup.
"For 13 months, a long time, it is very difficult to say right now that Rohit or Virat will be there," Nehra said.
"Age is no number," he added, while making it clear that he was not guaranteeing their presence at the tournament.
'Coaching India would be a great honour'
Nehra was also asked whether he would like to become India's head coach in the future.
The former India pacer stopped short of calling it an ambition, saying he does not like planning his career too far ahead.
"It will be a great honour and a privilege, but I never plan things like that. We'll see in the future," Nehra said.
For now, he remains focused on his role with Gujarat Titans and was keen to reject the idea that the franchise's success should be attributed to individuals.
Nehra was part of the GT setup that won the IPL title in the franchise's debut season in 2022 and reached another final in 2023 under Pandya. After Gill took over, GT again reached the final in 2025.
"When it comes to team sport, it should not be like Shubman Gill won, or Nehra won, but it should be GT won," he said.
No regrets over 2003 World Cup final loss
Nehra also looked back at India's 2003 ODI World Cup final against Australia, which India lost by 125 runs at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Despite the disappointment of losing a World Cup final, Nehra said he does not dwell on the result.
"What's gone is gone. It's always a good learning," he said.
Nehra pointed out that losing a final is part of a professional sporting career and that the 2003 defeat was not the only final he experienced.
He also compared India's 2003 campaign with the 2023 ODI World Cup, in which India again suffered a final defeat against Australia.
"The whole tournament, we were playing well. In the 2024 50-over World Cup in India, our team was no different, and exactly the final we lost in Ahmedabad," Nehra said.
Nehra appeared to be referring to the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which India lost to Australia in Ahmedabad.
He added that India's run in 2023 had been even more dominant than the team's 2003 campaign, but ultimately the final did not go their way.
"In fact, we were more dominating than we were in 2003, but that's part and parcel of the game. I never look back, and I'm not somebody who regrets too much. I always look forward," he said.
