Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has launched a sharp critique of India's Test captain Shubman Gill, labelling the young batter as "complacent" and ill-equipped for the rigours of leading in all three formats of the international game. His comments arrive amidst a turbulent period for the Indian Test side under new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Gill's Complacency and Kohli Contrast
While acknowledging Gill's inherent talent, Panesar did not mince words in his assessment. Speaking to ANI, the former left-arm spinner pointed out a concerning tendency in Gill's approach. "He is a complacent cricketer. He has a lot of talent, but he starts playing lazy shots in the game," Panesar stated. He drew a direct comparison with the legendary Virat Kohli, whose absence he feels is deeply felt in the Test arena.
"Virat Kohli's intensity and aggression are evident in all formats. Shubman Gill can't do that. Too much burden for him. He can't be the captain of all formats. It is too much for him," Panesar elaborated, questioning the young player's capacity to shoulder the immense responsibility.
Systemic Issues: IPL Focus and a Weak Red-Ball Pipeline
Panesar's criticism extended beyond individual players to address systemic problems within Indian cricket. He argued that the current crop of players is not adequately prepared for Test cricket, largely due to the overwhelming financial allure of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"Indian players are not ready for Test Cricket. In India, players who perform well in T20 and ODI don't perform well in Test Cricket," he claimed. He highlighted a significant motivational gap, stating that young cricketers prioritise IPL contracts over the hard work required in first-class, four-day cricket.
"The boys just want to play in IPL. They want to get a big contract... It takes a lot of hard work in 4-day cricket. That's why they want to give less time," Panesar explained. He further described the gap between the Ranji Trophy and the national Test team as "significant," calling the domestic red-ball system "very weak."
Gambhir's Challenge and India's Test Struggles
Panesar's remarks coincide with a difficult start to Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach. The Indian team has recently suffered two heavy Test series defeats—a 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand and a 2-0 loss in South Africa. Panesar believes Gambhir, while proven in white-ball cricket, needs time to adapt to the demands of Test leadership.
"Gautam Gambhir is a good coach in white-ball cricket because he has been successful. He could become the Ranji Trophy coach, and he should talk to the coaches who have coached in the Ranji Trophy about how you build a team in red ball cricket," Panesar suggested. He bluntly assessed the team's current state: "Right now, the Indian team is weak in Test cricket. This is the reality. It's not that strong."
He attributed part of the struggle to a transitional phase, noting the difficulty of replacing retired legends. "When you retire three big players, it becomes difficult to keep the remaining players ready," he said, underscoring the void left by stalwarts.
Panesar concluded by reiterating the unique value of Virat Kohli in the Test format, a presence he feels is irreplaceable in the short term. "In white-ball format, you won't miss Virat Kohli that much. But yes, in Test Cricket, it's evident that Virat Kohli is not there, and the team's intensity is lower." He predicted a long road ahead for India's resurgence in the longest format of the game.
