IPL 2024: His group of men trust and respect him – Matthew Hayden backs Shubman Gill to improve as a leader

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has put his weight behind Shubman Gill to improve as a leader. Gill was named as Gujarat Titans captain for the ongoing Indian Premier League after Hardik Pandya decided to move back to Mumbai Indians.

However, Gill could not get the best out of his players in IPL 2024. After GT’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders was washed out without a single ball bowled, the franchise was knocked out of the tournament.

Meanwhile, under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, GT won the IPL title in 2022 and also made it to the final in the previous season. Gill played a key role in the success of the team in the last edition, scoring 890 runs in 17 matches.

However, Gill has managed 426 runs in 12 matches at an average of 38.73 and a strike rate of 147.40 in IPL 2024. 

“I believe anything that Shubman Gill should do to improve himself as a leader (he should),” Matthew Hayden told Star Sports on Monday. “Steve Waugh once said this to us as a group: ‘Don’t wait for me to be a leader. Be your own leaders on the field and off the field. And you will go back to your respective states, your franchises. And then, ultimately, when you come to me as your national captain, you will come in and make my job easier’.

“I am a big believer in trying to bite off more than you can chew. He has got a strong support base around him that can keep him somewhere near planet earth when the elations come. They have come thick and fast. They are already here. His group of men trust and respect him. I am sure if he can find ways to learn — there are some parts of his batting that he will work out different strategies moving forward,” he added.

Hayden said that Gill is still young in his career and he will improve with more experience.

“We all forget how young he is. As the baby of the next generation, he has got to have leadership. It’s got to be part of his equation. I think he is a natural leader, whether he likes it or not. He is a calm leader. If he can pull all those things together, I am sure he has got a bright future,” he added.

GT will play their last league stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday.