Anil Kumble calls for focus on the Test batting credentials of Shubman Gill

After plenty of reports suggesting the fate, the appointment of Shubman Gill as India's Test captain didn't come as a surprise. While it was not necessarily a shocking decision, it sure is a contentious one. The BCCI handing Gill India's captaincy over the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant has ruffled many feathers. What adds to the debate against Gill's selection is his returns with the bat in the longer format. While Gill has maintained his overall Test average around 35, it drops to a lowly 26 in overseas conditions. With his batting form already a concern, was it wise of the board to add India's captaincy to his responsibilities ahead of the India vs England series? It's the question that former Indian head coach, Anil Kumble, has posed.

Anil Kumble apprehensive of Shubman Gill leading India in Tests

Anil Kumble has voiced reservations about Shubman Gill being named India’s new Test captain. According to the former India skipper, Gill faces an uphill challenge, not just in leading the side but also in establishing himself as a reliable batter in overseas conditions. Though he has featured in all 32 of his Test matches for India, Gill’s stature as a proven performer abroad is still under question. While becoming India’s second-youngest Test captain after Sachin Tendulkar is a notable achievement, the 25-year-old also happens to be the least seasoned among recent leaders.

Kumble made it evident that he had envisioned Jasprit Bumrah taking over the reins from Rohit Sharma, a succession plan that once seemed likely. Jasprit Bumrah, who served as vice-captain during BGT and even led the team in matches at Perth and Sydney in Rohit’s absence, was on track until a back injury derailed those plans. With Bumrah's fitness an ongoing concern, the selectors turned to Gill, looking toward the long-term vision for Indian cricket.

Yet, Kumble's chief concern remains Gill’s inconsistency with the bat outside India. In 13 away Tests, Gill has managed just 649 runs at an average of 29.50, with only one century to his name, against Bangladesh. Without directly addressing the selectors, Kumble hinted that Gill should first consolidate his position as a batter before being burdened with the expectations that come with captaincy.

"It's going to be a massive challenge. Initially, I thought Jasprit Bumrah would have been the automatic choice, but they must have a reason there. They would have probably spoken to him, and maybe Jasprit is now looking at taking a break between matches. He felt that it was better not to be the captain," Kumble said.

"But the ideal choice would have been Jasprit. Now that the selectors have taken a call on Shubman, they'll have to stick with him for a while. Because he needs that kind of leeway as well. First, he has to establish as a batter because even in Australia, he didn't play all matches," he added.

Though Shubman Gill has had some leadership experience, captaining Gujarat Titans for two IPL seasons, his red-ball captaincy resume is relatively thin. Aside from a solitary Ranji Trophy match where he led Punjab in a losing effort against Karnataka, he has four other First-Class games as captain, three in the Duleep Trophy and one for India A in 2019.

His only experience leading India came in a limited-overs series against Zimbabwe, where he secured a 4-1 win. But Kumble believes that none of this compares to the intensity and expectations tied to captaining the India squad in the India vs England series, especially in a transition period following the retirements of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.

"As a captain, he has certainly shown signs. Of course, it's a very different format. He has a calm head. He's done all the right things for GT in the last couple of seasons as a captain. So as a player, it hasn't really affected him at least in the white-ball formats. And to expect that to happen in Test matches as well – there won't be any issues with his batting just because he is captain… it's going to be a different team without the big boys Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and Ashwin as well. The Indian team is going to look very different," Kumble further noted.