Jos Buttler on Shubman Gill: “He’ll Be One of India’s Most Influential Figures”
England’s white-ball legend Jos Buttler has heaped praise on Shubman Gill, calling him one of the most promising leaders in world cricket today. Speaking on the For The Love of Cricket podcast with former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, Buttler remarked that the Indian Test captaincy comes with massive influence—second only to political leaders.
“I think they say the Indian Test captain is like the third or fourth most influential person in India, behind the Prime Minister etc. – so you really are put up on that pedestal,” Buttler said.
The praise comes ahead of India’s crucial five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds, which will be Gill’s first major challenge since taking over the red-ball captaincy following Rohit Sharma’s retirement.
Gill’s Leadership: A Blend of Kohli and Rohit
Buttler, who played under Gill’s captaincy in IPL 2025 for Gujarat Titans after being released by Rajasthan Royals, shared insights into the youngster’s leadership traits.
“He’s a really impressive player and an impressive young man,” Buttler said.
“He’s pretty calm and measured when he speaks, but on the field, he’s got a bit of fight about him; a bit of intensity, quite passionate. I think he’ll be a mix of Kohli and Rohit.”
Describing Virat Kohli as aggressive and confrontational and Rohit Sharma as calm and composed, Buttler positioned Gill as a middle ground—someone who absorbs qualities from both, but ultimately forges his own path.
“He’s obviously learned from those two guys… but he’ll be very much his own man.”
On Managing Captaincy and Batting
Buttler also warned of the mental demands of being India’s captain, especially when it comes to balancing leadership duties with personal performance—something he himself struggled with during his tenure as England’s white-ball skipper.
“He talked about compartmentalising batting and captaining; so when he’s batting, he just wants to be a batter… He’ll have to try and do that well and have some good people supporting him.”
IPL 2025 Success with Gujarat Titans
In IPL 2025, Gill, Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan formed a potent top-order for Gujarat Titans, guiding them into the playoffs. The experience gave Buttler a front-row seat to observe Gill’s calm, yet intense leadership style on the field.
As India embarks on a new era without legends like Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, all eyes are now on Shubman Gill—not just as a batsman but as a potential national icon in the making.