Following India's defeat in the first Test against England at Headingley, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has delivered a stark assessment of the team's performance under the leadership of newly appointed captain Shubman Gill. While acknowledging Gill's potential, Gavaskar didn't mince words, pointing out critical areas where the team fell short and emphasizing the need for significant improvement.
Gavaskar's critique comes after England successfully chased down a daunting target of 371 runs on the final day, securing a five-wicket victory and taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Despite India posting over 800 runs across two innings, fueled by centuries from Shubman Gill himself, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and a remarkable twin century feat by Rishabh Pant, the team's familiar frailties resurfaced, leading to the defeat.
The former Indian captain highlighted the collapses in both innings as a major concern. In the first innings, India slumped from 430 for 3 to 471 all out, losing their last seven wickets for a mere 41 runs. A similar pattern unfolded in the second innings, where they went from 333 for 4 to 364 all out. Gavaskar stressed the importance of the middle and lower order capitalizing on strong starts, which ultimately proved costly in the match.
Gavaskar also touched upon the shot selection of certain players, advising caution, especially early in the innings. He suggested that aggressive shots should be reserved for when a batter is well-set and has assessed the conditions. This advice seemed particularly directed at Gill, who, despite scoring a century, has faced criticism for his shot selection in the past. Gavaskar's comments echo similar sentiments he expressed in December 2023, when he critiqued Gill's dismissal in the Centurion Test against South Africa, suggesting a slight adjustment in his approach could have prevented the dismissal.
Furthermore, Gavaskar acknowledged the significance of Jasprit Bumrah's selfless gesture in recommending Gill for the captaincy. According to Gavaskar, Bumrah, aware of his own potential unavailability for all Test matches due to a recurring back injury, suggested that the selectors consider Gill for the role. Gavaskar praised Bumrah's team spirit and noted that he would undoubtedly be a valuable asset for Gill to lean on as captain.
Despite the defeat and Gavaskar's blunt assessment, there's optimism surrounding the young Indian team and Gill's leadership. As Gautam Gambhir noted, a first Test match as captain inevitably brings nerves, and Gill displayed phenomenal composure, especially with his first-innings century. With the series far from over, Gill has the opportunity to learn from this experience and lead his team to a comeback.
Acknowledging the areas needing improvement, Gill himself conceded that the lower-order collapses hurt the team's chances. He expressed the team's intention to address these issues and learn from their mistakes as they move forward in the series. It was a "baptism by fire" for Gill, who witnessed the many shades of Test cricket in the match.
The team's rebuilding process has officially begun, with Gill at the helm. While Gavaskar's reality check serves as a reminder of the challenges ahead, it also underscores the potential for growth and improvement within the young Indian side.
