Shastri Calls for Greater Responsibility from Senior Players and Bowlers

MANCHESTER: During the ongoing fourth Test against England in Manchester, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri voiced his concerns about Shubman Gill’s captaincy on Sunday, suggesting that the young skipper appears to be struggling to generate ideas while on the field.

Speaking with the media on day five of the fourth Test, Shastri also made an interesting comparison to Virat Kohli’s aggressive leadership style, emphasizing the differences between the two.

Shastri observed that Gill made some questionable tactical decisions that led to India surrendering a significant total. He drew a comparison between Gill and Kohli to emphasize his point.

“As an example, consider Virat. He was the opposite of Gill. Virat was extremely aggressive at times, and we would have to calm him down from the dressing room. He desired five wickets every session.

That is simply unrealistic. You must sometimes respect the prevailing conditions and adjust the field appropriately,” Shastri stated.

Shastri expressed his belief that Gill’s strategy is overly cautious, which leaves him without answers when faced with difficult situations.

“Gill, conversely, seemed to lack ideas and appeared disoriented at times. This is his first series as captain, and he is in a learning phase,” he noted.

The former coach emphasized that leadership responsibilities extend beyond the captain and urged veteran players and bowlers to take greater accountability.

“Team management and experienced players have a vital role. They must contribute ideas and be proactive when necessary.

Bowlers with extensive experience, having played 50-60 Tests, ought to propose strategies instead of awaiting instructions. Consider Ben Stokes, who consistently seeks methods to disrupt partnerships,” Shastri concluded.