Exactly six months back, Shubman Gill was left out of the Indian team for the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG. Dropped. Banished to the sidelines. After scores of 31 and 28 in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide (he missed the Perth victory with a broken finger) and one in Brisbane, his was the first name on the chop list when India decided to bring back off-spinner Washington Sundar to partner Ravindra Jadeja.

Replaced Rohit in Sydney

Gill’s stint on the outer lasted just one week. He was back in business for the New Year’s Test in Sydney, replacing misfiring skipper Rohit Sharma in the playing XI. No one knew at the time that there was more than mere symbolism to that move.

Last month, Gill succeeded Rohit as captain, following the latter’s retirement from the five-day game. India’s fifth youngest skipper hadn’t led a lot at the first-class level — five matches — but Ajit Agarkar’s selection panel saw in him one for not just the now but also the tomorrow, entrusting him at 25 to run the ship once it became clear that Jasprit Bumrah would potentially miss as many matches as he played to keep his body from giving up on him.