'No one has done him a favour...': Gautam Gambhir's take on Shubman Gill replacing Rohit Sharma as India's ODI captain

India head coach Gautam Gambhir believes that Shubman Gill has deservedly been appointed as the side's new ODI captain. This comes after many were left surprised with the team management's decision to take leadership duties from Rohit Sharma and hand it to Gill for the upcoming three-match series against Australia that will commence from October 19.

Gambhir further remarked that Gill has already passed his toughest test as captain during the five-match red-ball tour of England earlier this year. This was Gill's first-ever assignment as India's Test captain and under his leadership, the Men in Blue recorded a 2-2 series draw.

ALSO READ: 'Absolutely wrong to say that...': BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla provides major update on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ODI future

"(By) just allowing him to be himself. I think no one has done him a favour by appointing him the Test captain or (the) one-day captain. I think he deserves every bit of it," Gambhir said at the post-match press-conference.

"I think he's worked hard. He has already passed his toughest test as captain -- that was in England, five Tests away from home in tough conditions against a quality team," he added.

India's domination against West Indies

Gill's second Test assignment as captain also turned out to be a success as India did a clean sweep over the West Indies, comprehensively beating them in both the Tests and winning the series bvy 2-0. The team led by Gill thrashed the Caribbean side by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad before winning the second Test by seven wickets at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi.

Following India's victory over West Indies in the second Test, Gambhir highlighted how difficult the England tour was for Gill and also praised the team for responding well to the 26-year-old's leadership.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: After Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma reaches Delhi airport ahead of ODI series against Australia

"I know it's tough for him. It was tough, and I've said it many times, that England was probably the toughest Test for him. Five Test matches over the course of two, two and a half months, against a quality England side. What more could he have faced? Sometimes we only keep talking about the captain, but the way the team has responded to him and to his leadership is equally important" Gambhir stated.

Who will be India's next opponent in Tests?

Meanwhile, India's next Test assignment will be a two-match home series against South Africa that will commence from November 14. This will again be a good chance for the Men in Blue to improve their PCT and make significant gains on the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.