Hayden backs Shubman Gill to handle India Test captaincy

On August 12, 2026, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden publicly backed India Test captain Shubman Gill to take on the leadership challenge as India prepare to begin a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15, and said the team will have a lot to do to reach the World Test Championship final.

Gill took over the India captaincy in 2025 before the England tour following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli; while he has shown strong form with the bat the side’s results have been mixed. He has won five out of his nine Tests in charge, losing three and drawing one. Hayden worked with Gill during their time together with the Gujarat Titans.

Hayden outlined the scale of the task for Gill and the team, saying: "I guess in many ways India as a cricketing nation has also had a brilliant captain in Shubman Gill. He has many challenges to face, none of which is more important than the survival of Test match cricket," Hayden told ANI.

Addressing format-specific strengths and weaknesses, Hayden said: "And I feel India are in a much better position to continue their winning ways in the short formats, 50-over in particular, and T20 cricket, and they do have some work to do as most nations do in and around their Test and longer formats," he said.

On Gill’s leadership qualities and the composition of the squad, Hayden added: "So I'm sure Shubman Gill will be up to that challenge. He's a wonderful young man and a good leader, and he's got a good team around him, albeit a team that's going to need to perform some younger players and some more experienced players. But they've got a job to do ahead of the World Test Championship final, which is in June next year," he added.

India will face Sri Lanka in a two-Test series that begins on August 15; Gill was able to shake off an injury scare during the warm-up match and was declared ready for the first Test in Galle.

The immediate focus for India is the two-Test series in Galle starting August 15, while the side also faces the task Hayden flagged of preparing for the World Test Championship final in June next year.