Shubman Gill's captaincy is facing intense scrutiny after India's defeat in the first Test against England at Headingley. Despite a strong start, with India posting five centuries across both innings, a dramatic collapse and costly fielding errors led to a five-wicket loss, handing England a 1-0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. As the second Test at Edgbaston approaches, the young captain's leadership is under the microscope.
Former England cricketers and Indian cricket experts have offered contrasting opinions on Gill's captaincy. David Lloyd, speaking on Sky Sports, pointed out Gill's inexperience, stating, "The intrigue is with Shubman Gill, who's a very inexperienced skipper... tactically, he's reactive rather than proactive". This sentiment suggests that Gill needs time to develop his tactical acumen and become more assertive in his decision-making on the field.
Echoing this view, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar critiqued Gill's defensive approach during the first Test. Manjrekar noted that Gill's field placements were "far too defensive," especially when conditions appeared favorable for India. He drew a comparison with Virat Kohli, suggesting that Kohli would have adopted a more aggressive approach to put pressure on the opposition. "Whether they would have got wickets or not, Kohli would have shown the opposition that he's trying to get them out. Gill is not that kind of personality, nor that kind of captain. But maybe don't go so defensive pre-empting things," Manjrekar said.
However, former England captain Alastair Cook urged patience with Gill, drawing parallels to Ben Stokes' early days as captain. Cook acknowledged that it takes time for a team to adjust to a new leader and that Gill would need time to find his footing. Cook also noted that Gill might have felt "shell-shocked" after the defeat in Leeds. He suggested that an established captain might have attacked more aggressively in India's second innings to put pressure on England.
Despite the criticism, Gill did achieve a personal milestone in the first Test, scoring a century in the first innings and becoming the fifth Indian batter to score a century on his captaincy debut. This accomplishment highlights his potential as a leader and his ability to perform under pressure. Jos Buttler has also backed Shubman Gill to thrive as India's Test captain.
As India prepares for the second Test at Edgbaston, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill's captaincy. He will need to learn from the mistakes made in the first Test and demonstrate a more proactive and aggressive approach. The team will also need to support him and contribute with both bat and ball. India will aim to level the series at Edgbaston, a ground where they have historically struggled. India has never won a Test match at Edgbaston, with seven defeats and one draw in their previous eight encounters.
Adding to the challenge, the availability of Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test remains a key question. While Gill confirmed that Bumrah is available, managing his workload will be crucial, especially with a short turnaround between the second and third Tests. India might consider tweaking their playing XI, with potential inclusions of Nitish Kumar Reddy or Washington Sundar to add depth to both batting and bowling.
