India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill faced sharp scrutiny after his leadership debut ended in a five-wicket defeat to England in the opening Test of the five-match series. Despite a solid batting performance from the Indian side — with five players notching centuries — England chased down a mammoth 371 in the fourth innings to snatch victory and take a 1-0 lead.
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain led the criticism, stating Gill appeared “reactive rather than proactive” and lacked the on-field presence of his predecessors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. “I saw someone finding his way. He didn’t quite have that aura. When I looked down, I saw two or three captains—captaincy by committee,” Hussain remarked during a Sky Sports panel.
The Test was a baptism by fire for the 24-year-old Gill, who scored a gritty 147 in the first innings but struggled to assert command in the field as England’s aggressive approach paid off.
However, former India coach Ravi Shastri came to Gill’s defence. “He has done more than can be asked of him. He led from the front with the bat, and things like dropped catches and collapses are beyond his control,” Shastri said. He also pointed to India’s inability to close out strong positions, emphasizing the need for greater resilience from the lower order.
India’s bowling attack, missing star pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the second innings due to workload management, was unable to halt England’s momentum. Shastri urged the team management to reconsider resting Bumrah for the upcoming Tests. “If he was looking at a rest, you may have to think twice. Going 2-0 down could make things very difficult,” he warned.
Former England pacer Stuart Broad hailed England’s comeback as “sensational,” noting India’s missed chances. “India had so many opportunities to shut this game down. But England kept fighting, and Duckett’s knock was outstanding.”
With the second Test scheduled to begin on July 2 in Birmingham, questions loom over India’s leadership dynamics, tail-end batting, and team balance — while Gill now finds himself under the spotlight in only his first series at the helm.
