Captaincy brings the best out of Shubman Gill, and it’s one aspect that he enjoys when out on the field.

“It (captaincy)’s something that I definitely enjoy. It brings out the best in me when I am out there, because I look to be involved in the game.

“It is something that really brings out the side of me which I enjoy, being on the field,” Gill said after India’s 4-1 win over Zimbabwe in the just-concluded T20I series in Harare, under his leadership.

With most of the senior pros rested following the T20 World Cup, Gill was tasked with leading an India side for the first time in his five-year international career.

Leading a team featuring a majority of the reserves and youngsters, the tour began on a rough note for Gill as India lost to Zimbabwe in the series opener, unable to overhaul a paltry 115.

However, his teammates ensured that things were back on track quickly and expectedly and India were able to register comfortable wins in the next four matches.

“There was pressure. I wouldn’t say extra pressure, but obviously, even when you are playing just as a batsman and you don’t perform, there’s a certain kind of pressure that comes along with it,” Gill said further about captaincy.

“But I think that’s the fun part of it. You kind of feel so many different emotions. Pressure is one of them, and when you get out of that, the satisfaction you feel is immense.”

Gill had featured in only 14 T20Is before the Zimbabwe tour, but relished the opportunity to lead a young side.

“To be able to lead such phenomenal, talented players who I have had the pleasure to play with or against at some stage in age-group cricket or U-19, it just feels amazing.

“When you have played against or with so many of the players, it definitely makes my job easier because I understand them at a player level and as a person as well... So many talented players, so many players coming up and it’s really fun to be able to play alongside them when I am at the non-striker’s end,” Gill said.

Going back to the first T20I which India lost, what did go wrong that India were all out for 102 when they had to get just a 116?

Failure to assess the conditions properly was the reason, Gill felt.

“I think that is the mistake we made in the first T20I.

“The score wasn’t that big, but I think we didn’t assess the conditions as early as we should have and we lost too many wickets in the Powerplay. And then once you are under pressure, you are always behind in the game,” he stated.

So far in his international and IPL career, Gill has played under the leaderships of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. He didn’t single out anyone when it comes to idolising a captain in international cricket, but said Rohit is someone he looks up to.

Besides, it’s under Rohit’s captaincy that Gill has played the most number of matches.

“You can take qualities from Rohitbhai or even Mahibhai, Viratbhai, Hardikbhai... All of them. All of them have great qualities. But I have played the most under Rohitbhai, so he is someone who I look up to and really enjoy playing under,” Gill said.

Gill scored two 50-plus scores in the series. But again, his strike rate wasn’t outstanding, something he may look to address on the Sri Lanka tour.