Shubman Gill's captaincy debut for the Indian Test team has sparked considerable debate, particularly after India's loss to England in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. While the defeat has led to criticism of Gill's tactics, former Indian all-rounder Mohammad Kaif has emerged as a strong supporter, asserting that Gill led the team better than his counterpart, England captain Ben Stokes.
Kaif's comments, made on his YouTube channel, have provided a counterpoint to the prevailing narrative. He specifically praised Gill's handling of Jasprit Bumrah, highlighting the young captain's decision to give Bumrah spells of four overs each and rotate him effectively. Kaif argued that Gill "led better than Ben Stokes" and commended him with a "Well done, thumbs up." He also acknowledged the limitations Gill faced, stating that he was a "helpless captain because he was playing with one and a half bowlers," referring to Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, and the lack of support from the other bowlers.
Gill's performance with the bat has also been a significant talking point. In his debut as Test captain, he scored a brilliant 147 in the first innings, becoming only the fifth Indian captain to score a century on captaincy debut. Kaif lauded this achievement, emphasizing the importance of Gill scoring runs in England to silence critics who doubted his ability to perform in those conditions. "He passed the Test with the bat, scored a century, excellent batting. Apart from captaincy, he showed he can deliver with the bat," Kaif said.
However, other analysts have offered a more critical perspective. Former England captain Nasser Hussain noted that Gill "didn't quite have that on-field aura" of previous Indian captains like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Hussain suggested that Gill appeared to be "reactive as opposed to proactive" and that there were "a lot of captains" on the field, implying a lack of clear leadership. Hussain also pointed to India's dropped catches and lower-order batting collapses as major factors in their defeat, issues that were beyond Gill's control.
Despite the loss, some observers have emphasized Gill's potential as a long-term captaincy option. Even before his Test debut as captain, his leadership of the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) had drawn praise. In May 2025, Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel said, "Gill has been fantastic as captain. The way he's been around with the group...he's scoring a lot of runs, he's been very good, proactive on the field. Off the field also, he spends a lot of time with young players...you can feel that Gill is the captain in the dressing room, that's what you want in a leader."
Vikram Solanki, Gujarat Titans' Director of Cricket, echoed this sentiment, stating that Gill has "really grown into the role of captaincy" and that the "weight of leadership" has not been a concern. Solanki highlighted Gill's ability to thrive under responsibility, both with his batting and his tactical decisions.
The debate surrounding Shubman Gill's captaincy reflects the complexities of leadership in cricket. While his debut Test as captain ended in defeat, the backing from figures like Mohammad Kaif and the earlier observations of his leadership qualities in the IPL suggest that Gill has the potential to grow into the role. As he gains more experience and develops his own style, it will be interesting to see how he shapes the Indian Test team in the years to come. The upcoming matches in the series against England will undoubtedly provide further insights into his leadership capabilities.
