Shubman Gill isn’t just leading India’s ODI setup — he’s redefining what it means to inherit the captaincy in a team still shaped by giants. Speaking ahead of the third ODI against the West Indies, the current skipper called it ‘extremely lucky’ to have both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad as India builds toward the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. He didn’t just praise their skill. He underscored their collective experience, calling Kohli ‘probably the best ODI batter’ and Rohit ‘the best ODI opener in the world’. But this wasn’t about reverence. It was about function. Gill stressed that while he values the input of the senior duo, he doesn’t limit himself to them. ‘Often, not just those two,’ he said. ‘I go to even KL or Shreyas, for that matter.’ The key, he explained, is listening, not just to advice, but to the thinking behind it. ‘If they come to suggest something, then I might have thought about it. If I haven’t thought about it, then I’ll think about what their thoughts are.’ That’s not deference. It’s decision-making with depth. He sees the role not as a dream fulfilled, but as a responsibility. One he doesn’t carry with anxiety. ‘Even while growing up, it was not really my dream that I had to become India's captain one day,’ he admitted. His lifelong aim? To play for the country and win matches. Now, with the mantle on, he treats it as an opportunity to do exactly that. The 2023 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment. For Gill, the next edition isn’t just another tournament. It’s unfinished business. And the path forward? Not through grand declarations, but through conversation, consideration, and clarity. The first match under scrutiny: Thursday morning, against the West Indies. Ball in hand. Captaincy in motion. No pressure. Just process.