Shubman Gill's captaincy has come under intense scrutiny following India's recent performances, particularly in the ongoing Test series against England. While the young captain has achieved individual milestones, leading the team effectively has been questioned by former players and pundits alike.
One of the most vocal critics has been former England cricketer David Lloyd, who expressed his bewilderment at Gill's defensive field placements during the Edgbaston Test. Lloyd specifically pointed to the instance when Harry Brook and Jamie Smith were building a substantial partnership, noting that with India having a significant first-innings lead, Gill's decision to spread the field with only two slips was perplexing. He argued that maintaining pressure with a more aggressive field setting, including three slips, could have potentially disrupted the batsmen and created more opportunities for wickets.
Nasser Hussain, another former England captain, also weighed in on Gill's leadership, observing that the young skipper lacked the same "on-field aura" as his predecessors, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Hussain noted a sense of "captaincy by committee," suggesting that Gill might have been overly reliant on senior players, leading to a diffused sense of authority on the field. He felt Gill was more "reactive as opposed to proactive". Murali Kartik echoed similar sentiments, observing that there seemed to be "too many captains" on the field, implying that Gill wasn't fully in charge.
Virender Sehwag has also criticized Shubman Gill's captaincy in the IPL 2025. Sehwag was unhappy with Gill's bowling changes in a match against Punjab Kings, particularly when he took a bowler off the attack despite a good performance. Sehwag felt that Gill's captaincy wasn't proactive enough.
Despite the criticism, some voices have come out in support of Gill. Mohammed Azharuddin, for instance, urged critics to give Gill a fair chance, emphasizing that it was too early to judge his captaincy based on a limited number of matches. Ravi Shastri also suggested that Gill should be given leeway, acknowledging that he is new to the role and needs time to develop his leadership skills.
It is important to note that Gill has achieved some remarkable feats as a captain. He is only the second Indian captain to score a double century in an overseas Test. Gill is also among the few players to score centuries in their first two Tests as captain. In the Edgbaston Test, Gill's magnificent 269 propelled India to a commanding 587. This knock also stands as the highest by an Indian batter in England and outside Asia, solidifying his place in cricket history. Furthermore, Gill has joined a select group of visiting captains to score centuries in both the first and second Tests in England.
Gill has led India in 5 T20Is during the Zimbabwe tour, winning 4 and losing 1. In the IPL, he captained Gujarat Titans in 25 matches, securing 14 wins and 11 losses - a promising start to his leadership career.
Ultimately, whether Gill can transform his individual brilliance into effective team leadership remains to be seen. While the criticisms highlight areas for improvement, it is also crucial to acknowledge his achievements and provide him with the time and support necessary to grow into the role. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has said that they are hopeful that Shubman Gill will learn with time.
