Shubman Gill Faces Baptism by Fire as Test Captain, Hussain and Shastri React

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Leeds, June 25: Shubman Gill's captaincy debut in Test cricket may have started with a brilliant century, but it ended in a stinging five-wicket defeat to England - and has now invited critical scrutiny from former England skipper Nasser Hussain.

Reflecting on India's loss in the opening Test at Headingley, Hussain remarked that Gill lacked the on-field presence of his predecessors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and seemed to be more reactive than proactive in key moments.

Despite five Indian batters notching centuries - a rare collective high in Test cricket - India failed to defend a 371-run target on the final day, as England pulled off another impressive fourth-innings chase to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Didn't quite have that aura: Hussain

Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain said: "I saw someone finding his way. He (Gill) didn't quite have that on-field aura of Rohit and Virat Kohli. I thought he followed the ball a lot and was reactive rather than proactive."

The former England captain, known for his sharp analytical mind, also questioned the clarity of leadership on the field: "When Rohit and Kohli captained, you looked down and you immediately knew who was in charge. But in this game, I saw two or three captains - it felt like captaincy by committee."

Factors Beyond Gill's Control

While raising concerns about Gill's leadership style, Hussain was also quick to admit that some of India's issues were beyond the young captain's control. He pointed out costly drop catches and yet another lower-order batting collapse as the decisive moments in the match.

India, after leading by six runs in first innings, were bowled out for 364 in their second innings with centuries from KL Rahul (137) and Rishabh Pant (118). Despite setting a challenging target of 371, India failed to close out the match. England's aggressive batting and India's failure to make key breakthroughs turned the tide.

"The collapses concern me. In India, they have spin-bowling all-rounders who can bat. But in England, they still haven't found a seam-bowling all-rounder who can hold the bat. If they keep going 6 for 31 and 7 for 41, this could be a quick series," Hussain warned.

Shastri Backs Gill, Calls for Perspective

In contrast to Hussain's critique, former India coach Ravi Shastri offered a more measured take. Speaking after the match, Shastri said Gill has already exceeded expectations in his first outing as captain, especially considering the circumstances.

"There is a big role for the coaching staff to take the positives. As a captain, Gill has done more than can be asked of him. He got a hundred in his first Test in charge, and the dropped catches and collapses are not in his control," Shastri opined.

Shastri also expressed disappointment in the Indian tail's lack of resistance and urged the lower order to show more grit. "They had a chance to take England out of the contest and dictate terms. This is a tough pill to swallow. The tail needs to show more bottle and put a price on their wicket," the former India coach added further.

He also emphasised the need to play Jasprit Bumrah in the second Test, even if workload management had been planned in advance. Bumrah picked up a five-for in the first innings but could be rested for parts of the series due to a recent back injury. "If you're thinking of resting Bumrah, you may have to rethink. Going 2-0 down in a five-match series could make it a very difficult road back," Shastri remarked.

Broad: India Missed Key Opportunities

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that India had multiple chances to shut the door on England but failed to capitalise. Broad claimed, "India had so many opportunities to put this game to bed. But England scrapped and fought hard... It was a sensational run chase,"* Broad said.

He lauded Ben Duckett's aggressive knock at the top and hailed England's team character in pressure situations.

As India regroups ahead of the second Test in Birmingham, the early verdict on Shubman Gill's leadership is mixed. While his composure and century with the bat were major positives, questions remain over his assertiveness and tactical nous under pressure.

But given the inexperience and the enormity of replacing leaders like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Gill's captaincy journey is still in its infancy - and Headingley may just be a steep learning curve rather than a defining judgment.