New Delhi: In a major twist of events, IPL franchise Gujrat Titans lost their 2022 title-winning captain Hardik Pandya who officially returned to his former Franchise Mumbai Indians last night.
In his absence, India’s young opening Batman and ‘orange cap winner’ of the league’s 2023rd edition Shubhman Gill was assigned with the task of leading the team in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
Shubhman Gill’s crowning draws mixed reactions
While Hardik’s return to Mumbai Indians is being joyously celebrated by the fans of the 5-time champion franchise, Shubhman Gill’s promotion as Gujrat Titan’s skipper is drawing mixed reactions from the fans.
Although some fans are happy seeing this young cricketer, often hailed as the Prince of Indian cricket, take over the leadership of an IPL franchise, others are of the opinion that the responsibilities of captainship will have an adverse effect on the cricketer’s performance with the bat.
Kane Williamson vs Subhman Gill
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Many fans are also bashing GT for choosing Gill as captain despite having a number of more experienced and battled-hardened cricketers like Kane Williamson and Rashid Khan in their team.
Advocating for Kane and Rashid, fans are saying that instead of Gill one of them should have been given the role of leading Gujrat’s team in the coming 17th edition of the world’s biggest cricketing league.
This has triggered an internet war amongst the fans who are taking to the comment section and supporting the cause of their favorite cricketer.
Commenting on Gill’s appointment as Gujrat Titan’s captain, one user wrote “Can’t wait to see Gill’s captaincy.”Another one criticized the franchise’s decision to have Gill lead the team in IPL 2024 and wrote, “Not a good decision…I think Kane Williamson is the right option,”
“I think Gujarat has a better choice than Shubman. Kane Williamson is the best captain and I also love his captaincy how he uses his players looks so interesting.”, read a third comment
Here are more fan reactions:
Happiest are those who followed and became his fan from here ❤️
GILL CAPTAINCY ERA BEGINS#ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/wwdyNoQ6dD
— ✵ (@beliketweety) November 27, 2023
Kane Mama deserves to be captain of Gujarat Titans 😒💔💔 what is this @Gujrat_titans_ bichare youngsters per pressure dal diya 🙄😠 but congratulations champ @ShubmanGill ❤️❤️🔥🔥 #ShubmanGill #GujaratTitans https://t.co/qqZuvwjq4G
— Deepak Jain (@Deepakjain1827) November 27, 2023
Could be a better choice pic.twitter.com/hOkQL6Twor
— Radhika Chaudhary (@Radhika8057) November 27, 2023
Why Kane mama is good option 😦😦
— Kailash Talnia (@DiL_waLa_0) November 27, 2023
Feel sad for Kane Mama💔
— Manu (@virat_facts) November 27, 2023
PRINCE 🤴 ALL THE Best
— SID RajPut 🇵🇰 (@IMSID_45) November 27, 2023
When Kane Williamson is in the team? 🧐
Hope they don’t ruin his batting! 🙏
— First Day Reports (@firstdayreports) November 27, 2023
Downfall of GT started
— Waqas Jarh (@WaqasJrh) November 27, 2023
Rashid Khan : Gujarat walo ne captain na banakar apni aukat dikha dipic.twitter.com/tiQIZfA9zI
— Manoj Pareek (@mrpareekji) November 27, 2023
Kane Williamson road to Gujrat Titans
Notably, Kane Williamson, who was a part of GT’s squad in 2023’s IPL, was ruled out of the league after he sustained a major leg injury while fielding.
The Kiwi skipper earlier played for IPL franchise Sun Rises Hyderabad (SRH) where he clinched the coveted title after defeating Virat Kohli RCB back in 2016 under the Captainship of Australian cricketer David Warner.
However, he was released by SRH’s owners ahead of IPL 2023 and was bought by IPL’s newest team Gujrat Titans for a whopping price of Rs 2 crore.
Subhuman Gill’s Journey to Gujrat Titans
On the other hand, Subhmam Gill was previously part of Shah Rukh Khan’s franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and played for them from 2018 to 2021.
However, despite his splendid performance with the bat, he was not retained by KKR who released him ahead of the mega action. He was later bought by GT for a monumental amount of Rs 7 crore.
