When you are the captain of the Indian Test side, scrutiny becomes a constant companion. For Shubman Gill, already a familiar face in Indian cricket’s spotlight, the pressure has intensified since his elevation as Test captain. While Gill’s form with the bat has flourished, his ability to handle pressure—especially during high-voltage situations—has come into question following India’s narrow 22-run loss to England at Lord’s.
Despite boasting a stellar run in the ongoing series, including two centuries and a historic 269, Gill’s performance during the fourth day at Lord’s has raised concerns among cricket pundits. One of the most vocal critics was former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.
Mixed Signals from a Young Leader
At just 25, Gill is still discovering his leadership identity. Is he calm and composed like MS Dhoni? Does he embody Virat Kohli’s fierce aggression? Or will he evolve into the laid-back yet intense figure of Rohit Sharma?
So far, it’s been a blend. Gill showed visible aggression toward English openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett during a heated exchange on Day 3. But when roles reversed on Day 4, his composure seemed to waver.
“Where Is Shubman Gill Heading?” – Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar was especially concerned with Gill’s failure to cope under England’s sledging pressure during India’s second innings. “The thing with Virat Kohli was that he would get even more fired up and become a better batter [if things got nasty]. What disappointed me with Shubman Gill and that is why I was wondering, where is Shubman Gill heading? Because that seemed like it didn’t have the right effect on Shubman Gill, the batter,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day.
Gill’s struggles became apparent when he tentatively approached his second innings. He looked unlike the confident batter who had dominated earlier Tests, and according to Manjrekar, there was a specific reason.
“There Were Some Personal Attacks Made”
Manjrekar revealed that stump mic audio captured personal sledges aimed at Gill, a situation that possibly rattled the young skipper. “He came out looking very tentative and, you know, these days we are privy to the stump mic and we could hear the things being said and there were some personal attacks made. This could be a new experience for Shubman Gill because these days, as you can see, you know, with Indian players, there’s mostly a friendly reception from a lot of foreign teams. So this was new territory. And he looked tentative and wasn’t up for it,” he added.
A Costly Inning
The conditions were indeed more challenging than those in Leeds and Birmingham. Gill missed a full toss right at the beginning and was saved early via DRS. However, he was eventually dismissed lbw by Brydon Carse during India’s 193-run chase.
“We saw it pan out in the way he batted. Because these were deliveries, good deliveries, but he’s negotiated beautifully through his marathon run as a batter through the series. And suddenly he was missing those balls. There was a review situation as well. Next ball, there was a leg before. Going through Shubman Gill’s defence has been hard work. He has hardly missed a ball. The control percentage has been brilliant. And suddenly, in about nine deliveries [in the second innings], he’s missed four. I have no doubt that there is a connection there,” Manjrekar concluded.
India Trails 1-2 in the Series
Despite resistance from Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, India fell short by 22 runs at Lord’s. The defeat means India now trails 1-2 in the five-match series, and questions loom over Gill’s leadership maturity under fire.
As the team regroups for the fourth Test, the spotlight will remain fixed on Shubman Gill—not just as a batter, but as a leader learning to navigate the pressures of the captaincy at the highest level.
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