India’s new captain, Shubman Gill, faced criticism after the team lost the first Test against England by five wickets. Former captain Nasser Hussain noted that Gill didn’t have the same commanding presence on the field that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had. Despite five Indian batters scoring centuries, England managed to chase down 371 runs in the fourth innings, putting them ahead in the five-match series.
It was an intense start for Gill as he took over from the retired Rohit Sharma. Hussain observed that Gill seemed more reactive than proactive during the match. He felt that when Rohit and Kohli were leading, it was clear who was in charge, but in this game, it seemed like multiple players were calling the shots.
Hussain pointed out that the loss came down to two issues outside Gill’s control: dropped catches and batting failures. He expressed concern about the batting collapses, especially since India has some great spin-bowling all-rounders. In England, they’re still looking for a solid seam-bowling all-rounder who can contribute with the bat.
On a brighter note, former coach Ravi Shastri defended Gill, saying he performed well under pressure. Gill scored 147 runs in India’s first innings but only managed eight in the second. Shastri mentioned that it’s tough to lose a match after getting into such a strong position and stressed the need for the team to be more resilient.
Looking ahead, Shastri suggested that key bowler Jasprit Bumrah should play in the next Test, citing the risk of going down 2-0 if he rested. Bumrah, who took five wickets in the first innings, plans to play only three of the five Tests to manage his recovery from a back injury.
Former England bowler Stuart Broad also felt India had chances to win but didn’t seize them. He praised England’s effort in a thrilling run chase, particularly highlighting Duckett’s outstanding performance.