Shubman Gill's captaincy is under intense scrutiny following India's performance in the ongoing Test series against England, particularly in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Questions are being raised about his tactical decisions, field placements, and handling of bowlers, leading to criticism from former players and experts.
One of the major points of contention is Gill's reluctance to utilize his spin bowlers effectively. In the Manchester Test, Washington Sundar, who had a successful outing in the previous Test at Lord's, wasn't given the ball for a significant portion of England's first innings. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri criticized Gill for not trusting his spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, despite the pacers not achieving much success. Sanjay Manjrekar also pointed out Gill's hesitation to use his spinners as a "red flag," suggesting that Gill might not have enough confidence in their ability to take wickets.
Gill's decision to hand the new ball to debutant Anshul Kamboj instead of a more experienced pacer like Mohammed Siraj has also been questioned. Ricky Ponting felt that this move backfired, giving England early momentum. Ponting also criticized the end from which Jasprit Bumrah, India's strike bowler, was deployed, arguing that he should have been bowling from the Statham End, where most of the wickets had fallen. He stated that not giving the best bowler the most effective end showed a lack of basic Test match planning.
Furthermore, Gill's use of the Decision Review System (DRS) has come under scrutiny. A specific incident where KL Rahul advised Gill against taking a review, which Gill ultimately took and lost, has sparked debate. Manjrekar highlighted Rahul's intervention, suggesting that Gill should heed such advice more often.
Some experts, like Stuart Broad, have defended Gill, acknowledging that it's not easy for a young captain to contain a strong England side, especially on a high-scoring ground like Manchester. Broad drew parallels to Pat Cummins' experience in the 2023 Ashes Test at Old Trafford, where even a senior captain struggled against a dominant England batting lineup. He suggested that Gautam Gambhir, the coach, needs to be more involved in on-field tactics, given Gill's inexperience as a captain.
Adding to the controversy, Gill has accused England of not playing within the "spirit of the game," citing instances of time-wasting tactics. He specifically mentioned the delayed arrival of England's openers at the crease. These comments have added another layer of tension to the already heated series.
The pressure is mounting on Gill as India faces a must-win situation in the fourth Test to keep the series alive. The team's tactical approach and Gill's leadership will be closely watched as they aim to bounce back and level the series.
