Mohammad Kaif Calls Out BCCI For Overloading Shubman Gill With Multiple Captaincies

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has sharply criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the current team management for placing excessive responsibility on Shubman Gill, following India’s recent ODI series defeat against New Zealand. Kaif’s remarks come after Gill suffered his second consecutive series loss as India’s ODI captain.

India, under Gill’s leadership, lost the three-match ODI series 2–1 against New Zealand at home, mirroring a similar 2–1 defeat away to Australia earlier. These back-to-back losses mark a difficult start to Gill’s captaincy tenure in the 50-over format, adding to growing scrutiny over his leadership role across formats.

Speaking on the issue, Kaif said the BCCI’s decision to appoint Gill as captain in both Tests and ODIs at a young age was the “biggest mistake”. He argued that the pressure of leading the side in multiple formats has placed an unnecessary mental and physical burden on the young batter, potentially affecting his performance and longevity at the highest level.

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Kaif further stated that Gill is being expected to shoulder too many responsibilities simultaneously—leading the team, anchoring the batting lineup, and delivering consistent performances. According to him, such expectations can weigh heavily on any young player, especially one still establishing himself as a long-term leader in international cricket.

The former India batter also pointed fingers at the Gautam Gambhir-led team management, suggesting that leadership roles should be eased into rather than imposed abruptly. He warned that overburdening Gill could shorten his career if the pressure continues unchecked.

Gill, widely regarded as one of India’s most talented batters of his generation, remains central to the team’s future plans. However, Kaif’s comments have reignited the debate over workload management, leadership grooming, and whether young players should be fast-tracked into multi-format captaincy roles so early in their careers.

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