Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Mohammad Kaif said that captain Shubman Gill looked to need support during the second Test against Sri Lanka. The match at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo concluded on Thursday, August 27 in a draw.
During a discussion on his YouTube channel (Mohammad Kaif), he said: “Shubman Gill, somewhere in the middle, looked like he was reaching out for help. He did not have too many experienced players in his team either. KL Rahul is there, of course, as the vice-captain, Rishabh Pant is there, and Jadeja has played around 90 Test matches, but he does not really come into the leadership role. They did not have many leadership-type players in the team.”
“Many times, I saw Shubman Gill going up to the bowlers, and there were also instances when they bowled two wides down the leg side. You would think, ‘We are trying to keep Sonal away, so let’s bowl a dot ball. It is the last ball of the over, so let’s bowl it outside.’ They had planned things to that extent throughout the Test match. It was something we had never really seen before. The Indian team looked so helpless at times. Against Sonal, they were trying to bowl a dot ball with the last ball of the over. So overall, I think Shubman Gill will be a little disappointed,” he further added.
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However, Mohammad Kaif also spoke about the transition process, explaining that it usually happens when a new captain takes over, and the senior members are still part of the team as well. The new leader spends a few years alongside them, learning from their experience, and by the time they leave, the new captain has already gained three or four years of captaincy experience as well. And, Kaif added that Shubman Gill has limited experience leading in red-ball cricket so far.
“So, how does a transition happen? You have senior players in your team, and a new player becomes captain. He stays with the seniors for a year or two, and by spending time with them, he also learns. By the time the seniors leave, you have already captained for three or four years. You have covered all the angles and learned along the way, right?,” he said.
“Shubman Gill has only captained in two Ranji Trophy matches. That is it. He does not have much four-day experience. He has white-ball experience, yes, but he has been playing more four-day and five-day matches with the Indian team. He has not really come through the ranks by captaining in the Ranji Trophy,” Mohammad Kaif concluded.
