Shubman Gill's start as India's Test captain has been met with both praise and scrutiny following India's recent Test match against England. While Gill showcased his batting talent with a century, his captaincy decisions, particularly on the final day, have been a major talking point. Some observers have lauded his calm demeanor and tactical acumen, even drawing comparisons to England's Ben Stokes, while others have criticized his perceived defensive approach and lack of on-field authority.

Mohammad Kaif, for instance, commended Gill's leadership, stating that he skillfully rotated Jasprit Bumrah and even led better than Ben Stokes. He highlighted Gill's brilliance in managing Bumrah's spells. This perspective emphasizes Gill's potential as a young captain who can effectively utilize his resources.

However, this viewpoint is not universally shared. Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, pointed out that Gill seemed to be "finding his way" and lacked the commanding presence of his predecessors, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Hussain observed that Gill appeared reactive rather than proactive, suggesting a need for more assertiveness in his decision-making. He also noted a "captaincy by committee" dynamic, where senior players were heavily involved, possibly overshadowing Gill's leadership. Sanjay Manjrekar echoed this sentiment, noting that Kohli would not have employed such a defensive field.

Adding to the criticism, some have argued that Gill was a "helpless captain" due to the underperformance of India's pace attack, with the exception of Jasprit Bumrah. This perspective suggests that Gill's strategies were constrained by the lack of support from his bowlers, making it difficult to exert pressure on the opposition. Questions were also raised about Ravindra Jadeja's bowling strategy. Hussain was surprised that neither Gill nor other senior players addressed Ravindra Jadeja's bowling strategy on Day 5, where the spinner failed to utilise the rough patches on the pitch effectively.

Despite the criticisms, there's also a call for patience and understanding. Gautam Gambhir urged critics to give Gill time to prove himself, highlighting his first-innings century under pressure and acknowledging the challenges of captaining in tough conditions. Gambhir expressed confidence in Gill's potential for success, comparing the situation to "pushing someone into the deep sea," suggesting that Gill will emerge stronger from this experience.

Nasser Hussain also acknowledged that Gill has matured significantly since captaining in the IPL. Furthermore, Yuvraj Singh and Wasim Jaffer praised Shubman Gill for his performance as the new Indian Test captain.

Ultimately, Shubman Gill's first Test as captain presented a mixed bag of results. While his batting performance and certain tactical decisions were commendable, concerns have been raised about his on-field authority and proactive decision-making. As a young captain, Gill has the opportunity to learn from this experience and develop his leadership skills. Whether he can successfully navigate the challenges and establish himself as a dominant force remains to be seen, but he certainly has the potential to do so. The upcoming matches will be crucial in shaping his captaincy and silencing his critics.