Shubman Gill's captaincy debut for the Indian Test team has been met with mixed reactions following India's defeat to England in the first Test at Headingley. While Gill's personal performance with the bat was commendable, his leadership skills and tactical decisions have come under scrutiny. Several cricket analysts and former players have weighed in on Gill's captaincy, comparing him to his predecessors and highlighting areas for improvement.
One of the main criticisms leveled against Gill is his perceived defensive approach, especially on the final day of the Test match. Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that Gill started Day 5 with too many boundary riders, a strategy that Virat Kohli, known for his aggressive captaincy, would likely not have employed. This defensive mindset allowed England to ease the pressure and chase down the target of 371 runs. Manjrekar acknowledged that Gill didn't have the same caliber of the seam attack that Kohli had, but still felt that a more attacking intent was needed.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain echoed these sentiments, stating that Gill "didn't quite have that on-field aura of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli." Hussain observed that Gill seemed "reactive rather than proactive" in his leadership, often following the ball instead of dictating terms. He also noted a lack of command in the field, suggesting a "captaincy by committee" rather than Gill taking complete control. Hussain highlighted the importance of senior players stepping up and guiding Gill, particularly in crucial moments such as Ravindra Jadeja's bowling strategy.
Despite the criticisms, some voices have come out in support of Gill. Mohammad Kaif, for instance, argued that Gill captained more effectively than Ben Stokes in the match. Kaif praised Gill's management of Jasprit Bumrah's rotations, giving him short, impactful spells. He also pointed out that Gill was "helpless" due to the lack of support from other bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur. Kaif also lauded Gill's first-innings century, emphasizing the importance of scoring runs in England and Gill's success in meeting that challenge.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri also defended Gill, stating that he had done "more than can be asked of him." Shastri emphasized that the dropped catches and batting collapses were beyond Gill's control and that the coaching staff should focus on the positives. He acknowledged that it was a tough loss for India but highlighted Gill's century as a significant achievement in his first Test as captain.
The defeat exposed some underlying issues within the Indian team beyond captaincy. The batting collapses in both innings, where the lower order failed to capitalize on strong starts, proved costly. India collapsed from 430/3 to 471 in the first innings and from 333/5 to 364 in the second. Additionally, sloppy fielding, including numerous dropped catches, further hampered India's chances. Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped four catches, one of which allowed Ben Duckett to score a match-winning century.
Looking ahead, India needs to address these shortcomings to bounce back in the series. The middle and lower order need to contribute more consistently, and the team needs to improve its fielding standards. As for Gill, he needs to learn from this experience and develop his leadership skills. While comparisons to Kohli and Sharma are inevitable, Gill needs to forge his own identity as a captain and find a balance between aggression and pragmatism. He will need the support of senior players and the coaching staff to guide him through this transition and help him become a successful Test captain. The upcoming matches in the series will be crucial in assessing Gill's growth and the team's ability to overcome the challenges exposed in the first Test.
