Axar Patel Backs Shubman, Says His Captaincy Will Thrive Under Rohit-Kohli Guidance

The India all-rounder believes having two former captains provides the ideal environment for the 26-year-old to begin his leadership journey without pressure.

October 17, 2025: Star India all-rounder Axar Patel believes that Shubman Gill has the ideal environment to begin his ODI captaincy stint, with experienced former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad to offer guidance.

Speaking to the media after India’s second training session in preparation for the first ODI this Sunday, October 19, Axar noted that the presence of the two senior batsmen would be crucial for the 26-year-old skipper.

“For Gill, it’s perfect, Rohit Bhai and Virat Bhai are there and along with that, they have been captains, so they can give their input also, so it is very good growth of Gill’s captaincy,” Axar stated.

Gill took over as India’s ODI skipper after Rohit Sharma led the team to victory in the Champions Trophy in March. Despite the significant change, Axar has been impressed with Gill’s early leadership style. “What has been good about Gill’s captaincy thus far is that he hasn’t been pressurised,” he added.

Rohit and Kohli Return Sharp After Break

Rohit and Kohli are returning to the ODI squad for the first time since the Champions Trophy. However, Axar confirmed that both players, who trained at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence, looked sharp and ready for the upcoming series.

“Like [Travis] Head said, they both are world-class players. We can see after the first match. They are professionals, so they know what to do. They have been practising in Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence, so I think they are ready to go,” Axar said, dismissing any concerns about their break from competitive cricket.

The all-rounder also commented on India’s evolving approach to playing in Australia, suggesting the team is now better prepared for the conditions.

“I feel that since 2015, there have been a lot of changes. When we used to come, the talk was about pitches, conditions, bounce and we used to play less as well. We started playing regularly after the 2015 World Cup and the series started getting longer and after that, the batters started doing well,” Axar concluded.