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Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has criticised India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill’s strokeplay. Panesar feels that Gill gets complacent and is not aggressive and intense like former captain Virat Kohli. The former spinner doesn't want Gill to captain India across formats.
"He is a complacent cricketer. He has a lot of talent, but he starts playing lazy shots in the game. Virat Kohli's intensity and aggression are evident in all formats. Shubhman Gill can't do that. Too much burden for him. He can't be the captain of all formats. It is too much for him," Panesar told ANI.
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Harsh criticism on Gambhir’s tenure as red-ball coach
Panesar rates Gautam Gambhir as a good head coach in white-ball cricket but heavily criticised him for what he has done in red-ball cricket. He wants him to go to Ranji Trophy and start coaching there.
"Gautam Gambhir is a good coach in white-ball cricket because he has been successful," Panesar said. "He could work in the Ranji Trophy and speak to domestic coaches about how teams are built in red-ball cricket."
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Panesar on India’s red-ball cricket struggle
Panesar considers the current Test team weak as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin retired from the format.
"Right now, the Indian team is weak in Test cricket. That is the reality," he said. "When three big players retire, it becomes difficult to keep the rest ready. It takes time."
He reserved harsh criticism for Indian cricketers, especially young cricketers. He feels that the players want to make money in the Indian Premier League (IPL) instead of focusing on red-ball cricket.
"The boys want to play in the IPL, earn big contracts and play T20Is and ODIs," he said. "Four-day cricket takes hard work and patience. Test cricket pays less, and that affects focus."
"The Ranji Trophy system is weak at the moment," Panesar said. "India will need patience to make a proper comeback in Test cricket."
After facing a series whitewash at home, India are placed sixth on the points table. They have won four, lost four and drawn one game in the season.
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