Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concern over Shubman Gill’s captaincy following India’s five-wicket loss to England in the first Test at Headingley. While praising Gill’s composed batting at No. 4, Manjrekar advised the young captain to avoid overly defensive tactics, especially in favorable conditions.
Speaking on Star Sports’ Game Plan, Manjrekar said, “Gill is sorted as a batter and will only get better. But he must learn to push past 100 and build big innings consistently.” His bigger concern, however, was Gill’s field placements. “In overcast conditions, even if the ball wasn’t swinging much, they set very defensive fields pre-empting England’s approach,” he said. “You can just imagine what Virat Kohli would’ve done in that situation. He would’ve shown intent to take wickets, whether successful or not.”
Manjrekar added that Gill isn’t naturally aggressive but should still avoid overly cautious tactics. He also praised Rishabh Pant’s form and resilience while urging KL Rahul to perform consistently, not just in isolated matches.
India trails 0–1 in the five-Test series, with the second Test set to begin Wednesday at Edgbaston.
