- India,
- 19-Jul-2025 07:20 PM IST
IND vs ENG: With the England tour, the real test of young Shubman Gill's captaincy had started. After the defeat in the first Test, the way Gill led Team India to a spectacular victory under his captaincy impressed the giants of the cricket world. However, former Australia captain Greg Chappell believes that Gill has so far shown glimpses of brilliant batting and leadership ability, but his real test is yet to come. India lost the Lord's Test by 22 runs, after which England took the lead in the series. Now both the teams will face each other for the fourth Test in Manchester from July 23.The real challenge beginsIn his column in ESPNcricinfo, Chappell wrote that the Indian team is now preparing for the last two Test matches, and all eyes are on captain Shubman Gill. Gill has proved his talent with his batting and has also shown glimpses of his ability in captaincy. But Chappell believes that the real test starting now will determine the direction of Gill's Test captaincy. This is the time when Gill will have to impress everyone with his leadership and strategy.Chappell's concern over fieldingChappell expressed concern over the Indian team's fielding and said that poor fielding at this stage can cost India heavily. He warned that India cannot afford to become a team with poor fielding again. The best teams are agile on the field, do not give extra runs and do not miss important opportunities. Gill will have to focus on improving his team's fielding, so that the chances of a comeback in the series can be strengthened.Need for trust and strategy on playersChappell advised Gill to stay with his core team and along with the selectors, show trust in those players who can perform better under pressure. He said that Gill and the selectors will have to identify those players who can win the match in difficult situations. Also, the captain should clearly explain the role of every player, so that everyone knows their responsibility.Golden opportunity for GillChappell's statement has come at a time when the Indian team is lagging behind in the series. The Manchester Test can prove to be decisive. Shubman Gill has a golden opportunity not only to bring India back in the series, but also to establish himself as a reliable and strategic captain. All eyes are now on Gill's captaincy and batting, and cricket lovers are eager to see whether he will be able to accept this challenge and leave his mark.
