Since Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket, now everybody is waiting for Shubman Gill to become the captain automatically with Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain. There are valid reasons for the skepticism, however, in handing the captaincy to the 25-year-old. This Test team is moving into an era without its usual stars. And yet, Gill has yet to prove himself to be one of them. His work in the shorter format has been less than reassuring. In nearly five years and 32 games, he has scored 1,893 runs at an abysmal 35 average, with five centuries and seven half-centuries statistics far from shouting consistency. The question is really whether a batsman with such pedestrian numbers can lead from the front. In the greatest Test sides, Gill's record is mediocre to say the least. He has 537 runs at 35 against Australia and 37 a game in 10 matches against England. Against New Zealand, he has 32 from 5 Tests, and only 18 in 2 matches against South Africa. Struggles Further in SENA Countries: Country Runs HS Average 100s 50s Australia 352 91 35.20 0 2 England 88 28 14.66 0 0 South Africa 74 36 18.50 0 0 Overall 514 – 24.47 – 2 His performances on the road are even dismal. In Australia, he makes 35 in 6 Tests. In England, 14, and 18 in South Africa. In SENA countries overall, Gill has made 514 runs in 21 innings with a disappointing average of 24.47—numbers that call into question his leadership potential. In addition to that, in India's recent tour of Australia, Gill did get an opportunity to raise his game. But in three games, he made only 93 runs at a average of 18 and a best of 31. Nobody questions the huge talent of Gill, but piling too much on his shoulders at this juncture can be too much of a pressure. If we compare his performance from year to year, it only becomes more mystifying. Apart from 2024, where he's played only one Test at an average of 16, his annual averages have been in the 20s. In 2021, he made 478 runs at 29; 2022 was the same at 29; and in 2023, he dropped to 28. On form alone, he might not even deserve a place in the XI. Also Read | 10 Cricketers Who Switched Careers After Retirement Not even his record as a leader gives much confidence. In his sole first-class match as captain of Punjab, the side lost to Karnataka. In the IPL, while captaining Gujarat Titans, he has 13 wins from 23 decent, but not great. The final decision will be left to the BCCI. Let’s hope he performs if Gill’s the pick. But the selectors have to have a good backup plan, if things won’t happen the way as expected.