IND vs ENG 2nd Test: His Hands Are Tied! Shubman Gill’s Captaincy Under Scanner After Headingley Loss, Irfan Pathan Calls For 'Time'

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Team India's disappointing defeat in the opening Test at Headingley has led to intense scrutiny of newly appointed captain Shubman Gill. England's stunning chase of 371 runs not only turned the match on its head but also raised questions about Gill's decisions on the field, especially regarding bowling changes and tactical execution.

With India heading into the second Test at Edgbaston starting July 2, the spotlight is firmly on the 25-year-old skipper.

Gill, who assumed leadership duties after Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket, is still finding his footing as captain amid a period of transition for Indian cricket.

Several former cricketers and analysts have expressed concerns over Gill's leadership, but former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged the cricketing community to be patient with the young leader.

"There are a lot of talks about his captaincy and the bowling changes and everything. I think we need to give him time. Most importantly, first of all, he is a new captain. And he is captaining the side which is in a transition period. If you look at it, he doesn't have the services of Mohammed Shami, he doesn't have the services of Ravichandran Ashwin, he doesn't have the services of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as far as the dressing room is concerned," Pathan said to MyKhel during in a select media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.

He further emphasized how the lack of senior resources has limited Gill's options. "Bumrah is not going to play all the matches. So, his hands are tied. So, that's one thing. He is leading the side for the first time in the toughest tour of England. It's a tough one. Not many sides go to England, let alone India. And they do really, really well. It's a tough tour to actually captain the side for the first time. So, there are a lot of mistakes which happen during those 5-day matches," he added.

Addressing doubts about Gill's command over the team, Pathan said, "A lot of people talked about his authority. Authority will come with time. The good thing is he scored 100, which will make him comfortable as far as his form is concerned. Once his form is certain, then he is able to make tough decisions."