ENG vs IND 2025: How Shubman Gill’s captaincy decisions hurt India at Old Trafford and the way forward.
India’s dramatic draw at the Old Trafford Test in July 2025 captured attention for its grit under duress, but it also put the tactical acumen of Shubman Gill, the young Test skipper of India, squarely under the microscope.
While Gill’s courageous fourth hundred of the series ensured India lived to fight another day, his debut leadership tour to England exposed several areas for urgent improvement, illuminated by real on-field blunders, statistical realities, and critical analysis from cricketing greats.
Gill’s mixed captaincy debut
Gill, handpicked as India long-term Test captain at just 25 years of age, came into the Old Trafford Test facing immense pressure: India had lost two out of the previous three matches and were trailing England 2-1 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With star veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired, Gill’s leadership was supposed to usher India into their next era.
He did, however, run into difficulties that starkly separated his personal feats with the bat (722 runs at 90.25 average in this series, the most ever for an India batter against England in a single series) from his leadership decisions on the field.
Tactical errors at Old Trafford
Questionable use of bowling resources
Day 2 of the fourth Test saw Gill give the new ball to debutant Anshul Kamboj alongside Jasprit Bumrah, a move harshly criticised by Ricky Ponting and other pundits alike.
Kamboj struggled, conceding three boundaries in his first over, allowing England’s openers to surge to a 166-run partnership. The debutant also failed to capitalise on the weather conditions, primarily due to his low speed (averaging around 120-130 kmph). The decision handed England the initiative, from which India never fully recovered.
Gill also persisted with Bumrah from the Anderson End even though most wickets in the match had fallen from the Statham End, diminishing Bumrah’s impact.
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Delayed introduction of spin
Despite the Manchester pitch favouring spinners after lunch on Day 3, Gill did not introduce Washington Sundar until the 68th over. Sundar struck quickly, removing both Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, wickets that might have come much earlier and reduced England’s eventual 669 first-innings total.
Shardul Thakur, who has a reputation for breaking partnerships, was also poorly utilised. England stitched together three century partnerships, Crawley-Duckett (166), Pope-Root (144), Root-Stokes (102), with little sign of innovative field settings or bowling changes.
Decision-making under pressure
In India’s second innings, the team collapsed to 0/2, recalling memories of the Lord’s Test. Gill responded with a stoic 103 off 238 balls after sustaining blows to the thumb and helmet, leading by example with the bat. However, his field-based decision-making continued to lag behind his personal resilience.
England’s first-innings total of 669 (led by Joe Root’s 150 and Ben Stokes’s 141) was fuelled by India’s inability to contain aggressive starts or break partnerships with unexpected bowling changes or attacking fields.
Read More: ENG vs IND 2025: Should Jasprit Bumrah play in Oval Test?
Lack of proactive communication
Greg Chappell and Nasser Hussain, both experienced observers of leadership transitions, remarked on Gill’s failure to set clear tactical direction or communicate decisively, either at the crease or strategically as captain.
“Great captains are great communicators. Gill must become one, and quickly. His bat can’t always do the talking,” Chappell wrote on his ESPNcricinfo column.
The former Australia skipper also added that while Gill’s animated on-field self, like the one during his altercation with England opener Zak Crawley on the third day of the Lord’s Test was fine viewing, it must only come on the back of confident preparation.
Read More: Is Washington Sundar the next big all-rounder India have unearthed?
Where Gill needs to improve?
Although it is just the first series for Gill, he must sharpen his ability to read pitch conditions and opponents’ momentum. Utilising his best bowlers from optimal ends and seizing moments with proactive spin changes can make the difference in close Tests.
Also, showing confidence and trust in your players is a must for a skipper. Karun Nair, who might not get another chance in Test cricket, could have been backed by Gill for one more game. Also, playing Kamboj over Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna did not go well with cricket experts and many Indian fans,
Gill, calm and stylish by nature, must develop his voice as captain, providing clarity and confidence to teammates, especially when scripting India’s defensive or attacking approaches in crunch moments. Communicating clear plans, and executing them promptly, will be vital.
Indian attack is in complete disarray and the captain is letting the game drift because he has only 2 experienced wicket taking bowlers. Third wicket taking bowler Kuldeep Yadav is forced to cool his heels. Apparently Gill isn't getting inputs from Gambhir and Morkel.
— Makarand Waingankar (@wmakarand) July 25, 2025
The road ahead
Old Trafford’s draw was both a testament to Shubman Gill’s personal resilience and a red flag about his tactical growth as a leader. With India’s golden era veterans gone, a learning curve is expected, but Test cricket’s pressure allows little room for repeating high-stakes errors.
The promise of Gill’s statistics is immense. However, for India to seize future victories, Gill must evolve rapidly, balancing batting brilliance with sharp, communicative, and adaptive leadership.
Read More: How India salvaged a draw at Old Trafford
