Shubman Gill’s first Test as India’s full-time captain ended in disappointment, with the team losing to England by five wickets at Headingley. Despite five centuries across both innings, India failed to defend a fourth-innings target of 371. The result has sparked debate among former players and analysts, many of whom questioned Gill’s on-field tactics and leadership style.
On the “Stick to Cricket” show, former England cricketer David Lloyd commented that Gill appeared more reactive than proactive during key moments of the match. Lloyd pointed out that while Gill has experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja and Karun Nair around him, his inexperience as captain showed in the way decisions were made on the field.
“The intrigue is with Shubman Gill, who’s a very inexperienced skipper. How’s he going to come back from that? He’s got experience in his team. But tactically, he’s reactive rather than proactive,” said Lloyd.
However, former England captain Alastair Cook offered a more balanced view. He drew a comparison between Gill’s early leadership phase and that of Ben Stokes, who also took time to adjust after becoming England’s Test captain.
“When you take over a team, there will always be a phase when the team gets used to the new leader. This happened with Ben Stokes. It took time for the players to adapt to his aggressive style,” Cook explained, suggesting that Gill deserves patience and time to grow into the role.
Meanwhile, former Indian spinner Murali Kartik raised concerns about too many players appearing to lead during the game. He pointed out the visible confusion on Day 5 as multiple players, including KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, were seen giving fielding instructions, which may have undermined Gill’s authority.
“At one point I felt there were too many captains. KL Rahul was making hand movements, Rishabh Pant was doing it, and so was Gill. That can confuse things. You need one clear leader,” said Kartik on Cricbuzz.
He added that while senior players can offer support, constantly making field adjustments can lead to disorder and mixed signals on the field.
As India prepares for the second Test at Edgbaston starting July 2, questions around Gill’s captaincy will continue, but voices like Cook’s have reminded fans and critics alike that leadership in Test cricket is a journey, not an instant transformation.