Still learning, says Matthew Hayden about Shubman Gill, who now leads Gujarat Titans with sharper thinking than before. Not just power but calm choices define the batter today, shaped by clean decision-making under pressure. Confidence follows him, though it’s built quietly through routine rather than noise. His rise feels steady, guided more by inner balance than big moments. Growth shows without needing loud proof. Leadership sits well on shoulders already carrying national expectations.
Before Gujarat Titans faced Punjab Kings on Tuesday, Hayden shared thoughts on Gill. Not just skill matters – what stands out is how he talks about cricket now. That clarity? It shows growth under pressure. Maturity shines when words match performance. Few players reach that point. He seems to be there.
“Yeah, see, Shubman is a very clear speaker of the game, and that says he knew cricket in good stead, obviously at the highest level of cricket and Test cricket,” Hayden said.
Not just his runs but the way Gill carries himself stands out, says the ex-Australia batsman. Confidence plus a fresh mindset – traits that quietly define how he leads now. One doesn’t often see both in balance, yet there it is. These aren’t loud qualities, more like steady undercurrents. What matters isn’t what he copies, rather what he builds on his own. A calm belief, mixed with new-era thinking, seems to guide him. Leadership here looks less forced, more natural each time. It shows not in speeches but choices made mid-game.
Confidence shows in everything he does. When it comes to presence, there’s a quiet boldness – something fresh, something now – that stands out. That sense of command, like he decides what happens next, feels good to watch.
“But any side that he’ll play with, he very unselfishly says, and I’ve watched him across many different press conferences like this, that it’s very team-orientated,” Hayden added.
Gill steps into the fresh campaign at a curious point in his T20 path. Though steady in India’s drawn-out versions, he’s lost ground in the T20I squad thanks to sharp pressure from bold picks like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan instead. This batsman played 15 T20Is post-IPL 2025 yet never touched fifty, stirring doubts on his fit in the briefest form
Now it’s on their skipper to find form again, setting the pace early in the tournament. Still, Hayden backed the lineup as a whole, saying the batsmen aren’t showing any real red flags before opening play.
Season ended strong. Top trio held things together, thanks to solid work lower down the lineup. Middle hitters stepped up when needed. The closing moments matched their earlier rhythm. Nothing cracked under pressure.
“So the metrics are really solid going into this season. The little areas of improvement will come as the tournament wears on,” he said.
Hope rides on Gill now, not just talent. A calm foundation within the squad, along with leadership praised for honesty and nerve, sets the stage. As the fresh IPL campaign kicks off, expectations grow quieter but deeper. The team waits to see skill turn into runs. Clarity from the top blends with steady presence behind it all. Performance must answer what potential has long suggested.
