Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested that Shubman Gill‘s appointment as the captain for the upcoming Test series in England is more about his potential than his actual performance so far. He noted that Gill’s statistics in Test cricket have not been particularly remarkable.

The Indian selectors recently announced an 18-member squad for the five-match Test series in England, which will begin in Leeds on June 20. Rishabh Pant has been named his deputy.

In a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra, the former opening batter, remarked that Gill has been chosen for the leadership role primarily for his promise rather than his past achievements.

“The most significant aspect is Shubman Gill being appointed as captain. It’s a role filled with great expectation. There’s certainly belief in him, but there’s also a lot of hope because his Test statistics don’t quite stand out yet. His overall average is 35, and outside of Asia, it’s just 25,” he remarked (1:30).

“While these numbers aren’t exceptional, when you watch Shubman Gill, you get the sense that he’s the one who can shape our future. He has only played three matches in England, spread over three years, so he hasn’t had much exposure there. Nevertheless, now he will lead the team as captain and aim to create a new chapter,” he added.

Gill has so far scored 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05 across 32 Test matches. However, his performance in England has been underwhelming, with just 88 runs from six Test innings at a much lower average of 14.67.