Shubman Gill’s first outing as India’s Test captain ended in disappointment as England chased down 371 runs at Headingley to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Former England captain Nasser Hussain, while speaking on Sky Cricket, gave a sharp assessment of Gill’s leadership, comparing it unfavorably to that of his predecessors, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Gill, who recently stepped into the role after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, was seen as a promising young leader. However, Nasser felt that Gill lacked the strong on-field presence seen in Kohli and Rohit. He explained that Gill seemed unsure at times and may have relied too much on senior players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul during crucial phases of the match.
Tactical errors under pressure
Hussain pointed out that Gill appeared reactive instead of proactive, especially with field placements and bowling changes. He noted that it felt like “captaincy by committee” rather than a single, decisive voice, which is not unusual for a debutant captain but still concerning in a high-stakes match.
One of the biggest tactical blunders, according to Nasser, was the underutilization of the rough patches on the Day 5 pitch by Ravindra Jadeja. Despite favorable conditions for spin, Jadeja bowled too straight or wide, avoiding the rough areas. Hussain was surprised no one, including Gill or other senior players, directed Jadeja to adjust his line.
Ravi Shastri, who was on commentary, repeatedly highlighted this issue, pointing out how Jadeja missed opportunities to trouble the English batters with turn from the rough. Hussain echoed Shastri’s frustration, stating that such small tactical misses can change the outcome of a Test match.
India still searching for seam-bowling all-rounder
Hussain also reignited the long-standing debate over India’s lack of a quality seam-bowling all-rounder. While the team tried options like Nitish Reddy in Australia and Shardul Thakur at Leeds, neither provided the balance India desperately needs in English conditions.
He recalled how players like Hardik Pandya and even Kapil Dev in the past gave India depth in both departments. Without such a player, India’s tail has repeatedly collapsed, as seen in Leeds where they lost 7 wickets for 41 in the first innings and 6 for 30 in the second. Despite five individual centuries, India couldn’t close out the match.
Pressure mounts as India trail 0-1
As the series heads into the second Test, India has plenty to think about — from leadership clarity to fielding and team composition. Whether Gill can bounce back and adapt quickly remains to be seen, but the pressure has already begun to mount.
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