Sanjay Manjrekar has offered his perspective on Virat Kohli's captaincy era in light of India's recent performances under Shubman Gill, particularly during the ongoing Test series against England. Manjrekar acknowledged Kohli's tactical shortcomings but highlighted his ability to instill unwavering intensity within the team.

Manjrekar reflected on Kohli's captaincy, pointing out that while his team selections and strategies may have been debatable, the Indian team, under Kohli, never appeared dispirited, even when facing tough situations. He emphasized that Kohli ensured the team maintained a fighting spirit.

This observation came amidst scrutiny of Shubman Gill's captaincy, especially after India's defeat in the first Test against England. Gill's leadership has been described as overly cautious, with defensive field settings. Manjrekar directly compared Gill's approach to Kohli's, noting Kohli's proactive and assertive style. He suggested that Kohli would have been more focused on taking wickets, creating a sense of attacking intent that might have unsettled the opposition. Manjrekar stated Gill is not that kind of personality, nor that kind of captain.

However, some experts have also praised Gill, drawing comparisons to Sourav Ganguly. Mohammad Kaif likened Gill's captaincy to Ganguly's, recalling the 2002 Natwest Series and highlighting Gill's ambition and aggression with his young team.

The comparison between Kohli and Gill extends beyond tactical approaches. After a verbal altercation during the series against England, Gill looked shaken, in contrast to Kohli, who seemed to thrive under confrontation. Manjrekar noted that Kohli would become even more fired up and a better batter if things got nasty. He questioned whether Gill's aggressive approach was natural, observing that Kohli's combative nature was evident even before he became captain.

Currently, in the fourth Test against England, the pressure mounts on Gill, especially after England's strong response with a 166-run opening stand. This has put Gill's leadership and India's bowling performance under scrutiny, with India now having conceded two 150-plus opening partnerships in just four Tests under Gill's leadership, equaling the number from Kohli's 68-Test captaincy era.

Despite the criticisms, Gill's captaincy is still in its early stages. He has previously led India to a 4-1 series win in T20Is against Zimbabwe in July 2024. In the IPL, he has a win percentage of 51.85 as captain of Gujarat Titans. Manjrekar also feels that Gill has missed the presence of his deputy, Rishabh Pant, on the field.

Ultimately, while Manjrekar acknowledges Kohli's tactical limitations, he emphasizes the intangible qualities Kohli brought to the team – the relentless energy and unwavering belief that defined his era. As for Gill, he is a young captain still finding his way, with both praise and scrutiny accompanying his journey.