IND vs ENG: “Too Soft?” – Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Shubman Gill’s ‘Defensive’ Captaincy in Leeds Defeat
Shubman Gill faces criticism after India’s Test loss; Sanjay Manjrekar compares his captaincy to Virat Kohli’s
India’s defeat in the first Test against England at Headingley has led to criticism of new captain Shubman Gill’s tactics.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was among the first to express concern over Gill’s approach, calling it “overly defensive.”
Gill Under Fire After Tough Start as Test Captain
India lost the first Test by five wickets after England chased down 371 on the final day. This result made Gill the sixth Indian Test captain to begin his stint with a loss.
Experts pointed out that the field placements at the start of England’s innings were too cautious, with many fielders pushed back on the boundary.
Speaking on Star Sports, Manjrekar compared Gill’s captaincy with that of Virat Kohli, who is known for his attacking style and aggressive field setups.
Manjrekar: “You Can Picture Kohli in That Scenario”
“I understand the ball wasn’t moving much, but they expected the English counterattack and set up a defensive field right away. I don’t want to unfairly compare him with Virat Kohli, but you can picture Kohli in that situation,” Manjrekar said.
He went on to explain that even if wickets weren’t easy to get, Kohli would’ve sent a clear message to the opposition with attacking intent.
“Whether they got the wickets or not, Kohli would’ve made it known that the focus was on dismissing the batters. Gill doesn’t have that kind of leadership personality. But maybe it would’ve helped to hold back a bit and not pre-empt what England was going to do,” Manjrekar added.
