Shubman Gill's captaincy debut in the first Test against England at Headingley has sparked considerable debate, with critics questioning his defensive approach, especially on the crucial Day 5. Comparisons to Virat Kohli's aggressive leadership style have been rife, with some suggesting Kohli would have approached the situation with a more attacking mindset.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has been particularly vocal, stating that Gill's field settings on the final day were too defensive, allowing England's batsmen to ease into their chase of 371. Manjrekar argued that Kohli, known for his proactive and relentless approach, would have set a more aggressive field, aiming to take wickets rather than contain runs. He went as far as to say that Kohli might have believed he could dismiss England before the tea break with such a strategy. "I hate to bring Virat Kohli as a comparison as Shubman Gill is a young captain but he would not have put such a defensive field. That's different from someone like Virat Kohli, who might say: We have enough runs, I'll get you all out before Tea," Manjrekar said.

This sentiment reflects a broader discussion about the contrasting captaincy styles. Kohli, who led India in 68 Tests, instilled a fearless attitude and a relentless pursuit of victory, particularly overseas. He fostered a potent pace attack and was never afraid to take risks to secure a win. Bhuvneshwar Kumar credited Kohli's captaincy for transforming India's Test team, emphasizing his aggressive mindset.

Gill, on the other hand, appeared to prioritize containing the scoring rate, perhaps hoping that wickets would fall naturally. This approach, while potentially stemming from a desire to manage pressure and avoid early risks, has been viewed as passive and lacking the killer instinct associated with Kohli's captaincy. Gill's captaincy has even been labeled as 'clueless' and he was called a 'paper captain' after the tense final day of the Headingley Test.

It's important to acknowledge that Gill inherited the captaincy under challenging circumstances, following the retirements of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket. He also doesn't have the same resources Kohli had, particularly the same experienced and fiery pace attack. However, critics argue that even with the available resources, a more proactive approach could have yielded better results.

Ricky Ponting has also weighed in on Gill's captaincy, suggesting that the added responsibility could impact his batting. He proposed that Gill might be better off batting at number four to ease the pressure. Ponting has also pointed out that Gill's Test batting needs improvement, especially his defensive game, and that his mental application is crucial.

Despite the criticism, it's crucial to remember that Gill is still in the early stages of his captaincy journey. He has the opportunity to learn from this experience and develop his own leadership style. He has also demonstrated his potential with a century in his first Test as captain. Whether he can successfully blend aggression with strategic thinking remains to be seen, but the comparisons to Kohli highlight the high expectations and the perceived need for a more proactive approach in Test cricket. The remaining matches in the series against England will provide further insights into Gill's captaincy and his ability to lead India to success in the post-Kohli era.