Following India's recent Test defeat against England at Headingley, the captaincy of Shubman Gill has come under scrutiny, but prominent voices in Indian cricket, including Ravi Shastri and Mohammad Azharuddin, have stepped forward to defend the young leader and urge patience.

Gill, who assumed the Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma's retirement, faced immediate pressure after the loss, with some observers questioning his tactics. However, both Shastri and Azharuddin have emphasized that it is too early to judge Gill's leadership based on a single match. Azharuddin, a former India captain himself, stated, "This is his just first match as a captain, you just can't talk about captaincy. It's too early to talk about captaincy". He further urged critics to give Gill "a fair chance" and provide him with "a lot of time and support," cautioning against hasty complaints and criticism.

Echoing Azharuddin's sentiments, Ravi Shastri has also voiced his support for Gill, emphasizing the importance of backing the youngster and allowing him to grow into the role. Shastri has called on the BCCI and team management to stand behind Gill, asserting that he would be disappointed if Gill doesn't achieve success as India's Test captain. Shastri believes that Gill's evolution extends beyond the field, noting his maturity in handling the media and conducting himself at press conferences and tosses. He has urged selectors and the BCCI to be patient with Gill, suggesting that he should be given a three-year period to prove himself, regardless of the series' outcome.

Despite the criticism, Gill demonstrated his batting prowess with a century in the first innings at Headingley. Shastri pointed out Gill's "class and composure," indicating that he remains confident despite the pressure of captaincy.

Azharuddin also addressed India's loss in the first Test, attributing it to a batting collapse. He stressed the importance of selecting the right players and ensuring that the bowling attack is "perfect" for the upcoming matches. Azharuddin cautioned against over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah and suggested including Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test to add variety to the bowling attack. He observed that India seemed overly dependent on Bumrah's ability to produce breakthroughs and that a more experienced and diverse bowling attack is needed.

Shastri's advice to Gill is to not confuse captaincy with batting, and to consider himself as a batsman first.

Both Ravi Shastri and Mohammad Azharuddin have pleaded for patience and support for Shubman Gill. They believe that it is crucial to give him time to settle into the role and that premature criticism can be detrimental to his development. They have also highlighted the need for a well-rounded team performance, with contributions from both the batting and bowling departments, to support Gill's leadership.