New Delhi, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former South African cricketer Lance Klusener believes Indian cricket has the talent to transition smoothly into its next era, backing Shubman Gill to lead the team for years to come and identifying young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a potential future superstar after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma eventually step away from the game.
Klusener said the stature of Kohli and Rohit should not prevent Indian cricket from embracing the next generation, pointing out that the sport has repeatedly produced players capable of carrying forward the legacy of those who came before them.
The former Proteas all-rounder, currently head coach of the Arabian Aces in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, shared his views while speaking to IANS on the sidelines of an event organised for the tournament.
“As good as Virat and as good as Rohit have been in the past, they will have to walk away from the game when their time comes. But the beauty of cricket is that it carries on. It gets stronger sometimes,” Klusener said.
“When we played, people never thought that Sachin Tendulkar’s records would ever be broken. And people are challenging those already. So, players come and go. It’s a sad day when legends of your game and legends of your country step away. But on the bright side, there are always younger, fitter, faster players in the wings as well,” he told IANS.
Klusener also expressed strong confidence in Gill’s ability to lead India, describing the young batter as an “absolute superstar” while highlighting the importance of balancing his responsibilities as captain with his role as a leading run-scorer.
“For me personally, I’m convinced already. I think he’s the right man for the job. He’s an absolute superstar with the bat. It’s probably just being able to separate Shubman Gill as a batter and Shubman Gill as a captain as well. I think all the great captains have been able to separate that. And I’m sure he’ll have a lot of opportunities and a lot of people to lean on in helping him do that,” he said.
“But absolutely, I think he’s as good as it gets with a cricket bat. And captaincy, even for old-established captains, you’re learning all the time. He’ll do the same. So, I’m absolutely excited for him. I think he’s a superstar. He’s going to be someone who will serve India with great courage and great purpose for many years to come, hopefully,” Klusener added.
Gill’s emergence as a leader comes as India prepares for the eventual transition beyond Kohli and Rohit, who have shaped the country’s cricketing fortunes for more than a decade. While their eventual departures will leave a significant void, Klusener believes such transitions are a natural part of the sport rather than a threat to India’s competitiveness.
He pointed to Sooryavanshi as evidence that India’s next generation of cricketing talent is already emerging.
“It’s a balance. Every team is different. Every nation works the retirement of players differently, and players retire every single season. India are facing that now with those two stars. South Africa have faced that with stars that they’ve had as well,” Klusener said.
“But cricket goes on. Stars come and go, and legends retire, and people think that it’ll never be the same again. But India doesn’t have to look further than a youngster like Sooryavanshi. There’s the next superstar,” the former Afghanistan head coach stated.
Klusener reiterated that Gill would need to develop his own leadership style while learning to manage the demands of captaincy separately from his batting responsibilities. He said the young captain should be given time and support to grow, drawing on the experience of senior figures around him as he takes charge of India’s next phase.
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