Shubman Gill reflects on captaincy challenges after Colombo Test draw
Shubman Gill, captain of the Indian cricket team, has spoken about the challenges of leadership following a drawn Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo. The match concluded with Sri Lanka holding India to a draw, preventing a 2-0 series sweep for India. This outcome impacted India‘s pursuit of qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
During the second Test, India enforced a follow-on after securing a 213-run lead in their first innings. Despite this, Sri Lanka‘s Sonal Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha mounted a significant resistance, forming a 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket on Day 5. Sonal Dinusha went on to score 133 runs, remaining unbeaten as Sri Lanka reached 429 for 9 before declaring, leading to the draw.
Captaincy Under Scrutiny
The draw in Colombo brought Gill‘s captaincy under evaluation. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar assessed Gill‘s performance, giving him a rating of 7 or 8 out of 10. Manjrekar emphasized the importance of considering the playing conditions and the resilience of the Sri Lankan batters when judging Gill‘s decisions. He noted that the pitch became very flat, making it difficult for bowlers to take wickets as the game progressed.
However, former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad offered a differing view, suggesting that Gill did not provide his spinners with sufficiently long spells. Prasad also highlighted the relative inexperience of India‘s spin-bowling attack, implying that more seasoned spinners might have found ways to contain the Sri Lankan batsmen on a pitch he believed offered considerable turn.
Data from SonyLIV indicates that Gill‘s spinners received an average of 26 balls per spell, which is the lowest among India‘s last four captains in subcontinent Tests since 2015. For comparison, Ajinkya Rahane‘s spinners averaged 39 balls per spell, Rohit Sharma‘s 35, and Virat Kohli‘s 34.
Gill’s Perspective on Challenges
Gill acknowledged the frustrations encountered during the match, particularly when the Sri Lankan tailenders, including Sonal Dinusha, resisted India‘s bowling efforts. He reflected on his decisions, stating, “Was follow-on the best decision, was it not? But then you have to go back in the moment and see, what can I do? Did I make the best decision in that moment? Yes, I did. Then you can’t do anything about it. You have to keep trying your best, and I think we did that.”
He commended his teammates’ efforts, particularly the spinners who bowled extensively. Gill praised their “10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent,” noting they bowled 50-60 overs consecutively for three days in challenging conditions. He also discussed the difficulties of taking wickets on a surface where slow turn meant bowled and LBW dismissals were less likely. Gill explained that field placements involved a mix of in-and-out positions to counter sweeping shots and ensure close-in fielders were available for catches.
Despite the draw, Gill remains optimistic about India‘s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. He believes that a strong performance in the upcoming New Zealand series and a victory in the subsequent Australia series for the Border Gavaskar Trophy could put India in a favourable position. The team’s immediate focus is on recovery before preparing for the New Zealand tour.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Menon 