Shubman Gill's Test Captaincy Begins with Defeat Against England

Shubman Gill's inaugural match as India's Test captain resulted in a five-wicket loss to England at Headingley. Despite scoring a century, his team couldn't defend a total of 371 runs. Critics pointed to a defensive strategy and a lack of assertive leadership. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar compared Gill's approach to that of Virat Kohli, suggesting that a more aggressive field setup might have been beneficial. As India prepares for the next Test at Edgbaston, they face the challenge of playing without star bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the pressure of their historical performance at the venue.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 28, 2025, 10:24 IST

India's Struggles Under New Captain

Shubman Gill's debut as India's Test captain ended in disappointment, as his team suffered a five-wicket loss to England at Headingley, Leeds. Despite Gill's impressive century, India could not defend their total of 371 runs, leaving England leading the five-match series 1-0.

The Indian bowling attack struggled to take sufficient wickets, leading many analysts to criticize Gill's defensive tactics. Observers noted a lack of assertive leadership during the match.

Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer and commentator, shared his insights on JioHotstar, drawing comparisons between Gill's captaincy style and that of Virat Kohli.

Manjrekar commented:

“Many believed Shubman Gill adopted a too defensive strategy. However, I think he aimed to restrict England's boundaries, anticipating that wickets would follow.”

He further elaborated:

“I dislike comparing him to Virat Kohli, as Gill is still finding his footing as a young captain, but Kohli would not have set such a defensive field. Kohli might have thought: We have enough runs; I’ll get you all out before Tea. While it’s uncertain if an aggressive field would have yielded wickets, he would have pursued that approach.”

Manjrekar continued:

“Gill lacks the same seam attack as England, although they are without Bumrah. The English side has more all-round options. Even with Jadeja, I believe India should have started with a more conventional field setup instead of anticipating reverse sweeps. It’s crucial to begin with an attacking mindset, even if just for a few overs, before shifting to a defensive stance. That said, I don’t want to be overly harsh on Shubman; he’s a new captain, and we should be patient.”

Looking ahead, India aims to bounce back in the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting July 2. However, the challenge intensifies as they will be without Jasprit Bumrah, and they face the added pressure of never having won a Test at this venue.