India lost the first Test against England at Headingley (Leeds) by 5 wickets. After this loss, many questions are being raised about young captain Shubman Gill. This was the first Test match as captain for the 25-year-old.
India set a big target of 371 runs, but they couldn’t defend it. On the last day of the match, England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley built a strong partnership of 188 runs, which ended India’s hopes of winning. During this time, Shubman Gill looked a bit helpless on the field.
🗣️ Murali Karthik’s Strong Reaction
Former Indian spinner Murali Karthik criticized Gill’s captaincy. Speaking on Cricbuzz, he said:
“We can make many excuses, but the truth is we scored 835 runs, a bowler took 5 wickets, and still we lost by 5 wickets. On Day 5, it felt like there were many captains on the field.
Sometimes KL Rahul was giving suggestions, sometimes Rishabh Pant was setting the field, and then Shubman Gill also said something. It was hard to tell who the real captain was.”
⚠️ Too Many Changes on the Field
Karthik also pointed out that many players were giving instructions on the field, which created confusion. The field settings kept changing, and there seemed to be no clear strategy.
❌ Gill’s Defensive Approach
Many cricket experts said that Gill looked too defensive, especially on the last day. When England was coming close to the target, there was no aggressive strategy from India. His decisions showed a lack of experience, and even the bowlers were seen taking advice from outside the field often.
📅 Next Test Will Be Crucial
The second Test between India and England will be played from 2nd July at Edgbaston, Birmingham. This match will be very important for Gill. He will need to prove his leadership and come with a clear and strong strategy on the field.
✅ In Simple Words
India lost the first Test against England, and people are questioning Shubman Gill’s captaincy. Former cricketer Murali Karthik said that it looked like too many players were acting like captains, and it was not clear who was in charge. Gill must now improve and lead the team with a better plan in the next match.
