The pressure is mounting on young Indian Test captain Shubman Gill after a string of underwhelming performances and a recent defeat against England. While the stylish right-hander has shown glimpses of brilliance, particularly in limited-overs cricket, his consistency and leadership in the Test arena have come under intense scrutiny. Now, Australian legend Brad Haddin has added fuel to the fire, suggesting a major change in the Indian lineup and questioning the role of a senior player.
Haddin's comments came after India's five-wicket loss to England in the first Test at Headingley. Despite centuries from Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul, and twin tons from Rishabh Pant, India's bowling and fielding frailties were exposed, leading to a disappointing defeat. Gill's captaincy debut was met with criticism, with observers pointing to fielding errors and a lack of attacking intent with the ball.
Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Haddin didn't mince words, urging Gill to take more risks and make bold decisions. His most controversial suggestion was to drop veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, stating, "Are we seeing the decline of Ravindra Jadeja? I mean, yes, he is effective in Indian conditions… but I don't think he is the best option to have in the team spin-wise".
Haddin argued that Jadeja, while a valuable all-rounder, may not offer the attacking edge needed in the spin department, especially outside of India. He proposed that India should consider playing Kuldeep Yadav, an attacking spinner who can take wickets, or explore other bowling options. Haddin believes India needs to be "more attacking" and "be willing to lose a Test match with some inexperienced bowlers, but change their mindset on the way they go about it".
Gill's recent form in Test cricket has been a concern. While he had a decent series against England in early 2025, with scores of 87, 60 and 112, he has struggled for consistency in other series. In the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, he failed to impress, leading to him being dropped for one of the Tests.
Despite the criticism, Gill remains a highly talented player with a bright future. He has achieved significant milestones in his young career, including becoming the second-fastest Indian to score 5000 T20 runs. In the IPL 2025, he scored 650 runs in 15 matches. He also entered the 2025 Champions Trophy as the No.1 ODI batter.
The pressure on Gill is immense, not only to perform with the bat but also to lead the Indian team effectively. Former cricketers and analysts have pointed out that he lacks the aura and tactical acumen of his predecessors. However, he has received support from teammates like Prasidh Krishna, who praised his captaincy debut and his communication with the team.
Whether Gill heeds Haddin's advice and makes bold changes to the team remains to be seen. The upcoming second Test against England will be a crucial test of his leadership and his ability to turn things around.
