Former Indian head coach Greg Chappell believes Indian skipper Shubman Gill can not always perform with the bat and he must become a better communicator to succeed as a leader. Gill was given the Test captaincy ahead of the England tour and he has done a decent job thus far, winning one and losing two matches.
The right-handed batter has been leading from the front in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar trophy as he has amassed 607 runs in three Test matches.
The former Australian batter, Greg Chappell, feels Gill needs to set the tone in the dressing room and he must communicate with his players with utmost clarity.
“Great captains are great communicators. Gill must become one – and quickly. Whether it’s at training, in the middle or in the dressing room during a break – clear, calm communication is essential. His bat can’t always do the talking. He must learn to speak in a way that aligns the group, encourages belief, and creates trust,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPN Cricinfo.
“The selectors and Gill must pick and stick. He must identify the core group of players he trusts, lay out a clear game plan, and communicate individual roles within it. Every player should know what is expected of them and where they fit in. Too often, in teams that struggle, players are left to work it out for themselves. That can’t be left to chance at this level,” he continued.
Chappell said Indian players must take their chances in the field, which hasn’t been the case in the series against England so far.
“Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone – not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards. That means demanding discipline in the field. India cannot afford to slip back into being a poor fielding side. The best teams are superb in the field. They don’t give easy runs. They don’t drop chances,” Chappell wrote.
Meanwhile, Gill was involved in an altercation with England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley and Chappell said it was good to see the Indian captain’s passion on the field.
“The Old Trafford Test is shaping to be the biggest examination yet for Gill – not just as a batter, but as a leader. He’s learning on the job, but the timeline is not generous. That doesn’t mean he can’t show emotion. In fact, his passion on the field at Lord’s was good to see. But actions like getting into Zak Crawley’s face ver time wasting only matter if they are backed up by the hard work done behind the scenes,” Chappell concluded.
The fourth Test match between England and India will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 onwards.
