Manchester Test: A Make-Or-Break Game For Shubman Gill The Captain

Anurag Dasgupta

Gill's challenges ahead of 4th Test [Source: AP Photo] Gill's challenges ahead of 4th Test [Source: AP Photo]

As India prepares for the do-or-die 4th Test at Manchester Vs England, the spotlight falls on their young leader, Shubman Gill, who has been brilliant with the bat and has shown flashes of brilliance with his leadership skills. By looking at Gill, one can assume that he is still raw when it comes to captaincy, but the talented player has the potential to surpass his predecessors. 

The Old Trafford Test will be a litmus Test for Gill, the captain, as he needs to be at his absolute best, and also has to bring in clarity of thought against an English side which currently has a 2-1 lead in the series. In the first three Tests, there were moments of brilliance where captain Gill looked cut from a different cloth, and then there were moments where he looked completely clueless.

If Gill wants to stamp his authority as a great Test leader, the 4th Test provides him with an opportunity to do so. However, the question arises, will the India skipper have clear clarity of thoughts and will he be composed in his decision-making?

Plenty of problems with Gill's captaincy

Don't get me wrong, Gill has shown that he has the tools to become one of the best Indian Test captains, but if he loses the 4th Test at Manchester, things will fall apart quickly for him. He will be under tremendous media pressure as failure shouldn't be in the dictionary of an Indian captain (well, that's what the media thinks).

The best captains aren't those who speak out loud and cannot back it up with their actions. The best captains are those who define a mindset and can lead the side from the front with innovative ideas - something which Gill has shown in the first three Tests. However, there are glaring weaknesses in his captaincy style which can lead to another disastrous Test match in Manchester.

Gill was all talk and no action as he got into Zak Crawley's face for wasting time towards the final moments of day's play. His actions reminded fans about how Virat Kohli would have behaved at that particular moment, instead of Gill. It was as if the Indian captain was trying to become someone else, rather than being himself.

Plus, when Ravindra Jadeja was batting with the tail in the 4th innings of the chase, there was no intent from the all-rounder as wickets kept falling at the other end. There was no sense of urgency in his batting, and at that moment, someone from the team management, mainly Gill, should have been vocal, and there should have been a clarity of thought given to Jaddu, which was not given.

Selections have to be spot on

England batters tend to struggle against quality spinners, and despite this, India's best spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, was warming the bench for the first three Tests. The spin bowler is a magician, and one cannot keep your best asset out of the playing XI, irrespective of the surface.

We saw how Washington Sundar ran riot against England at Lord's, and judging by his performance, it should be a no-brainer that Gill should include Kuldeep in the playing XI, even if the surface is green.

Gill's idol, and India's best Test skipper, Virat Kohli, had the ideology of going in with 5 genuine bowlers, and 6 batters in the playing XI. However, it seems Gill is still learning the art of Test captaincy, and it reflects on the team selection. 

Throughout the series, India has had this obsession with going in with bits and pieces cricketers, instead of designated players. Playing Nitish Reddy over Sai Sudharsan, and going in with Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav shows that India are playing defensive cricket. This is something captain Gill needs to rectify before Manchester Test.

The Bumrah conundrum Gill needs to solve

As a leader, Gill should be vocal about his ideas and shouldn't be afraid of speaking his mind. Jasprit Bumrah is India's greatest asset; however, he is trapped in this fancy English term - workload management. There are reports that he could either be rested for the Manchester Test or the final one at the Oval. 

The question is, does Gill agree with Bumrah's decision to take rest in such a critical stage of the series? Shouldn't he directly go to Bumrah and ask him to play the remainder Tests for the benefit of the Indian side?

Think about it. Would Bumrah have asked to take rest in the middle of an important series if Rohit or Virat were the captain? Perhaps not. Gill needs to assert his authority, and if he fails to do so, I am afraid the 4th Test might just slip out of India's hands.

Does Gill have the potential to be a brilliant captain? certainly yes. Does he have the courage to make bold decisions? only time will tell.