The Indian cricket team's recent defeat against England at Headingley has sparked intense debate and criticism, particularly focusing on the leadership of stand-in captain Shubman Gill. Several former cricketers and analysts have weighed in on Gill's captaincy, drawing comparisons to Virat Kohli's aggressive and proactive style.
Murali Kartik, former India spinner-turned-commentator, expressed his concerns about Gill's authority on the field. Kartik felt that Gill lacked command and that there were too many voices influencing decisions. He pointed out instances where senior players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were seen suggesting strategies, blurring the lines of leadership. Kartik emphasized that a team needs a clear, singular voice of command, something he felt was missing under Gill's captaincy.
Sanjay Manjrekar echoed similar sentiments, noting that Gill appeared too defensive in his approach, especially on the crucial Day 5. He contrasted this with Virat Kohli's captaincy, suggesting that Kohli would have set more attacking fields, aiming to dismiss England quickly. Manjrekar acknowledged that Gill didn't have the same caliber of bowling attack as Kohli, but he felt a more aggressive intent was needed. Manjrekar stated that Kohli might have said, "We have enough runs, I'll get you all out before Tea. Whether he would have gotten wickets with an attacking field is guaranteed ut he would have been at it".
Nasser Hussain joined the discussion, observing that Gill lacked the on-field aura of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Hussain described Gill as "reactive rather than proactive," suggesting that he followed the game rather than dictating it. Hussain highlighted that when Rohit and Kohli captained, their presence was immediately felt, whereas in this game, he sensed a "captaincy by committee," indicating a lack of clear leadership from Gill.
Despite the criticism, some voices have come out in support of the young captain. Mohammad Kaif defended Gill, arguing that he captained more effectively than England's Ben Stokes. Kaif praised Gill's management of Jasprit Bumrah's bowling spells and noted that Gill was "helpless" due to the lack of support from other bowlers. Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, also urged patience with Gill, highlighting his century in the first innings and emphasizing that it was only his first Test as captain. Gambhir compared Gill's situation to "pushing someone into the deep sea" and expressed confidence that he would emerge as a successful captain with time.
The defeat at Headingley exposed several issues beyond captaincy, including batting collapses, dropped catches, and a lack of penetration in the bowling attack. India's tail-end batting woes were particularly evident, with the last few wickets falling cheaply in both innings. The top order batsmen built a strong foundation which the middle and lower order failed to capitalize on. The fielders also had a tough time as they dropped crucial catches. Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped four catches, including one when Ben Duckett was on 97, which proved costly as Duckett went on to score a match-defining 149.
Former England pacer Stuart Broad suggested that India's team selection was also a factor in the defeat. Broad felt that India missed a trick by not playing Kuldeep Yadav, a wrist-spinner, on a surface that could have aided spin. He also suggested that Arshdeep Singh could offer a different angle to the bowling attack, especially if Jasprit Bumrah is rested.
The loss at Headingley was undoubtedly a setback for India and a learning experience for Shubman Gill. While criticism of his captaincy is valid, it's important to remember that he is a young captain and needs time to grow into the role. The team needs to address its other shortcomings, such as batting collapses and fielding errors, to bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches.
