Following India's recent defeat against England in the first Test match at Leeds, concerns have been raised regarding Shubman Gill's captaincy. Critics have described his leadership as "reactive rather than proactive". However, former England captain Alastair Cook has come to Gill's defense, drawing parallels with Ben Stokes' initial phase as England's captain.
Nasser Hussain pointed out that Gill lacked the on-field presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Hussain noted that Gill seemed to be "finding his way" and that the team displayed "captaincy by committee," with senior players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul seemingly offering a lot of input. He observed that Gill "followed the ball a lot" rather than anticipating and dictating the play. David Lloyd echoed this sentiment, stating that Gill's tactics appeared reactive. Similarly, Robin Uthappa criticized the Gujarat Titans' strategy in a recent IPL match, calling it reactive and highlighting missteps in bowling choices and fielding lapses.
Cook, however, offered a more supportive perspective. He suggested that it takes time for a team to adjust to a new captain and that Gill's situation is similar to what Ben Stokes experienced when he first took over the England team. Cook recalled that it took a while for the England players to get used to Stokes' aggressive approach. This comparison implies that Gill, like Stokes, needs time to instill his own leadership style and for the team to fully adapt to his methods.
Despite the criticism, some voices have defended Gill. Former India coach Ravi Shastri stated that Gill has "done more than can be asked of him". Shastri pointed out that Gill scored a century in his first Test as captain and that dropped catches and batting collapses were beyond his control. Mohammad Kaif even suggested that Gill captained better than Ben Stokes in the first Test, praising his leadership and batting performance. Gautam Gambhir has also defended Gill's decision-making.
Gill himself aimed to be the series' top scorer, and while his batting wasn't affected, his leadership is developing. At 25, Gill is among the youngest captains in recent memory. Ben Stokes acknowledged Gill's potential and recognized that being the captain of the Indian team comes with a lot of pressure, but it can also be an exciting time with fresh leadership. Jos Buttler, who played under Gill in the IPL, described him as calm and measured but also possessing a fighting spirit and intensity on the field.
It's important to remember that Gill is in the early stages of his Test captaincy. As Alastair Cook pointed out, it takes time for a team to get used to a new leader. Gill's leadership style is likely to be a modern hybrid, and he is still finding his feet in this role. The team's performance will likely improve as Gill gains more experience and the players become more accustomed to his leadership. The focus should be on providing support and allowing him the space to grow into the captaincy role.
