Following India's lackluster performance in the fourth Test against England, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on Shubman Gill's captaincy, emphasizing the importance of the captain's authority in team decisions. Gavaskar's comments serve as a reminder that the captain is ultimately responsible for the team's performance and must have the final say in crucial decisions.
Gavaskar didn't mince words while reacting to India's performance in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. Speaking on Sony Sports, the former India captain questioned the decision-making setup within the team, firmly placing responsibility on skipper Shubman Gill. He stressed that Gill will be judged on his calls, especially with India struggling to contain England's dominance in the series.
Gavaskar reminisced about his time as captain, highlighting that the captain held the reins, not a collection of analysts or coaches. He noted that in his day, advice came from former players serving as managers or assistant managers, individuals who offered guidance at lunch, after play, or on the eve of a game. He said it's difficult for him to understand the dynamic between captains and coaches.
Specifically, Gavaskar pointed to team selections, suggesting that Gill should have asserted his preferences. Drawing attention to team selections, Gavaskar made a pointed remark: “You can't say that he didn't want somebody like, you know, maybe in Shardul Thakur's case or Kuldeep Yadav's case... maybe Shubman didn't want Shardul in the team and wanted Kuldeep in the team. He should have had them in the team. He is the captain." He added that people will talk about his captaincy, so it has to be his call. Gavaskar also took a subtle dig, hinting that not all selection calls may reflect the captain's will, but are instead made to maintain a facade of unity. "I know for the sake of showing everything is hunky dory these things might not come out. The fact is that captain is the one who is responsible. He is the one, who is going to be leading those."
Echoing Gavaskar's sentiments, former cricketers and analysts have also criticized Gill's captaincy during the series. Ravi Shastri, another former India head coach, disapproved of Gill's delayed introduction of Washington Sundar into the attack during the fourth Test, despite Sundar's previous impactful performance. Shastri argued that such decisions could undermine player confidence. Sanjay Manjrekar has also questioned Gill's decision to delay Washington Sundar's introduction into the attack, calling it “a major red flag". Nasser Hussain criticized Gill's tactics, including the handling of Jasprit Bumrah and the underutilization of Washington Sundar. Virender Sehwag has also expressed his unhappiness with Shubman Gill's captaincy in the IPL 2025.
Despite the criticism, it's important to note that Gill's captaincy is still in its early stages. He was appointed India's Test skipper after Rohit Sharma's retirement. While he has had a tough beginning to his captaincy tenure, Gavaskar has compared Gill with India's three victorious captains in England - Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid. Gavaskar mentioned how Gill exuded calmness in the second Test in Birmingham and looked like an amalgam of Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid. "Not once did these three ever get excited, whatever the situation and that calm certainty was infectious. Shubman Gill in Birmingham looked like an amalgam of these three. Intense and iconic while scoring a double century and a century, rip roaring as well as thoughtful as his bowlers ran through the England batting in both the innings,” he added.
Gavaskar has previously advised Shubman Gill to prioritize exemplary behavior to earn the team's respect, emphasizing that a captain's conduct is paramount. He had said that Gill will need to behave in a way that the other players in the team respect him, and a captain's behavior is more important than his performance. Gill himself acknowledges the honor and responsibility, aiming to lead by example through discipline and hard work.
As Gill continues his captaincy journey, Gavaskar's words serve as a valuable reminder: the captain is the one who is responsible. While advice and input from coaches and senior players are valuable, the ultimate decisions rest with the captain, and they must be made with the team's best interests at heart.
