'Captaincy by Committee': Nasser Hussain Criticises Shubman Gill's Leadership in Leeds Test

Shubman Gill may have impressed with the bat during his debut Test as captain, but his leadership on the field left plenty to be desired—at least according to former England skipper Nasser Hussain. In a scathing critique following India's defeat at Headingley, Hussain pointed out glaring issues in India’s captaincy setup, even suggesting that there were "3-4 captains" on the field, none of whom took full control of the game.

A NEW ERA BEGINS: GILL AT THE HELM

India's transition phase in Test cricket began in earnest following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. With limited options, the selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir handed the reins to 25-year-old Shubman Gill. Despite only having two years of IPL captaincy experience with the Gujarat Titans, Gill was viewed as a long-term investment for the future of Indian cricket. Jasprit Bumrah had declined the role, citing workload concerns, making Gill the most viable choice.

Leading the side in England would always be a steep learning curve. However, Gill the batter seemed to embrace the challenge confidently, scoring his first Test century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries during the opening Test. His technical solidity and calm demeanour suggested a maturing cricketer ready for the next level.

LEADERSHIP LAPSES: FIELD STRATEGY UNDER FIRE

But while Gill's personal form was encouraging, his captaincy painted a contrasting picture. When England mounted partnerships, he often looked short on ideas. His field placements, particularly on the final day of the Test when England were 21/0 chasing 371, were described as overly defensive. Critics pointed out that allowing Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett to settle in without pressure was a costly mistake.

Another missed opportunity was his failure to exploit the rough patches outside the left-hander’s off-stump when Duckett began to counter-attack. Hussain noted that such elementary strategies, escaping a captain at this level, were troubling.

TOO MANY VOICES, NOT ENOUGH LEADERSHIP

Though Gill received on-field support from senior players like KL Rahul and vice-captain Rishabh Pant, Hussain felt that the leadership group as a whole lacked clarity and decisiveness.

“India had 3-4 captains at Headingley, but none of them were up to the mark,” Hussain remarked during commentary after England pulled off a dramatic 371-run chase to go 1-0 up in the series.

He did acknowledge Rahul’s brief but effective stint when he took charge of field placements, which led to two quick wickets for Shardul Thakur. Yet, that momentum was short-lived, as India failed to maintain pressure in the final session.

GILL LACKS THE 'AURA' OF ROHIT AND KOHLI: HUSSAIN

Speaking further on Sky Sports, Hussain emphasised the difference in presence between Gill and his predecessors.

“When Rohit or Kohli were captain, you could look at the field and immediately know who was in control. With Gill, it felt like captaincy by committee,” he said. “He followed the ball a lot he was reactive instead of being proactive.”

Hussain concluded that while Gill is still finding his feet, the lack of a commanding presence was evident and costly in a high-pressure situation.

A LEARNING CURVE AHEAD

As India rebuilds and looks ahead to the rest of the series, the spotlight will remain firmly on Shubman Gill not just as a batter, but as a leader. While his talent with the bat is unquestioned, the Leeds Test revealed that developing a commanding on-field presence and tactical acumen will be just as crucial for his growth as India's new captain.