Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin has weighed in on the recent performances of the Indian cricket team, offering his insights on Shubman Gill's captaincy and the team's reliance on Jasprit Bumrah. Azharuddin's comments come after India's defeat in the first Test against England, where the team's batting collapsed despite centuries from Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Azharuddin has strongly defended Shubman Gill, who is leading India for the first time in a five-match series. Despite the loss, Azharuddin believes it is too early to judge Gill's captaincy. "This is just his first match as captain. You can't talk about captaincy so early," he stated. He emphasized the importance of giving Gill a fair chance, support, and time to prove himself. "He should be given a fair chance, support, and time," Azhar said. The former skipper, who led India in 47 Tests, stressed that patience is crucial and that it is unfair to immediately criticize players. "We cannot just complain and criticise players like that," he added. Sanjay Manjrekar also drew parallels between Gill's appointment and Azharuddin's own captaincy appointment in 1989, highlighting the opportunity for a fresh start with a young and enthusiastic team.

Azharuddin also addressed the team's dependence on Jasprit Bumrah, suggesting that India is "too much dependent on Bumrah". He advocated for the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test against England to add variety and experience to the bowling attack. "It's not easy because you need more experienced bowlers, and they should play Kuldeep Yadav," Azharuddin told PTI Videos, suggesting that the wrist-spinner's inclusion could offer more control and variety. He highlighted that relying too heavily on Bumrah puts undue pressure on him to both take wickets and control the run rate. He felt that picking the right bowling combination will be key to bouncing back.

Furthermore, Azharuddin acknowledged the absence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, noting that any team would miss players of their caliber. He also shared advice for the Indian batters, urging them to be patient, especially when the ball is swinging, but also to play their natural game and not be overly cautious. "Stroke selection is the key to success in England," he said.

In summary, Azharuddin's statements emphasize the need for patience and support for new captain Shubman Gill, while also addressing the over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling attack. He suggests the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav to bring more balance and experience to the team.