Sunil Gavaskar has voiced strong opinions regarding Shubman Gill's captaincy, particularly focusing on the dynamic between the captain and the coach in the Indian cricket team. Gavaskar's comments come amidst India's struggles in the ongoing Test series against England. He questions the decision-making processes within the team and places the responsibility firmly on Gill's shoulders.
Gavaskar reflected on his time as captain, noting that the setup was different then. During his tenure, the captain held the primary responsibility for decisions, without the extensive involvement of coaches and analysts that is common today. He mentioned that while there were managers or assistant managers, they were mainly former players who offered advice, not coaches in the modern sense. Gavaskar specifically mentioned figures like Commander Durrani, Raj Singh Dungarpur and Irapalli Prasanna, praising the latter's brilliance.
Gavaskar finds it difficult to understand the current captain-coach combination. He seems to suggest that the lines of authority and responsibility may be blurred, potentially undermining the captain's role. Gavaskar emphasized that the captain should be the ultimate decision-maker, especially regarding team selections and tactical strategies. He implied that Gill would be judged based on his choices, particularly with India facing challenges in the series against England.
Gavaskar pointed out instances where Gill's decisions have come under scrutiny. For example, he alluded to possible disagreements in team selection, wondering if Gill truly wanted certain players like Shardul Thakur or Kuldeep Yadav in the team. Gavaskar stated firmly that the captain should have the players he wants in the team, implying that Gill should assert his authority.
However, earlier in the year, before the series against England, Gavaskar had expressed optimism about Gill's captaincy. He urged stakeholders, including fans, to be patient with the young team under Gill's leadership. Gavaskar stressed the importance of giving Gill a long run and support from the coaching staff and teammates. He suggested that Gill should be given a full season as captain before making judgments about his leadership. Gavaskar also believed that the added responsibility of captaincy could sharpen Gill's focus and improve his batting in Test matches.
Ravi Shastri, the former India head coach, has also critiqued Gill's tactical decisions during the Test series against England. Shastri questioned Gill's choices, such as delaying the introduction of Washington Sundar into the attack despite his previous success. Shastri argued that this decision sent a negative signal to Sundar and relieved pressure on England. He also highlighted the delayed use of the bouncer tactic and suggested that Mohammed Siraj should have been given the new ball ahead of a debutant. Despite these criticisms, Shastri believes Gill will improve with experience, drawing parallels to Virat Kohli's early captaincy days.
