The question of whether head coach Gautam Gambhir or captain Shubman Gill is leading the current Indian Test cricket squad has gained a lot of attention in Indian cricket circles.This discussion gained wider attention following some recent team selection controversies and strategic moves during the ongoing England tour.
Former India Cricket captain and cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar recently weighed in on the matter, providing authoritative insight into who truly calls the shots within the team.
Captain vs Coach
Shubman Gill is the newly appointed Test captain, and Gautam Gambhir, himself a former Indian opening batter and two-time World Cup winner, serves as the head coach. Under the guidance of a fresh leadership of Gill and Gambhir, Indian Test cricket has gone through a period of transition after the retirement of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Some critics and supporters have hinted whether Gill, as a 25-year-old and quite new to the role of a captain, is effective in the dressing room, respectively, with a powerhouse like Gambhir present. Such ambiguity even created an uncertainty on who takes the final call regarding decisions made in a team concerning the selection of players and tactics applied in the field.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Take: It is Shubman Gill’s Team
Addressing this controversy head-on, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar clearly stated that the Test team belongs to Shubman Gill, not Gautam Gambhir. In an interview, Gavaskar stressed the conventional role of the captain as the final decision maker at the field level and at the team strategic level.
Gavaskar reflected on his playing days, a time when Indian cricket teams did not have formal coaches like today. Former players served as managers or assistant managers who offered advice and guidance but did not interfere with captaincy decisions. He remarked, “We didn’t have coaches. We just had former players as managers or assistant managers of the team. They were the kind of people whom you went up to and talked to. They gave you some advice at lunchtime or the end of the day’s play or on the eve of the game.” He found it difficult to fully grasp the captain-coach dynamic in its current form, but reiterated that ultimately, the captain’s authority prevails.
Gavaskar’s view underscores the principle that, despite the prominent role of the coach, it is the captain who carries the on-field responsibility and leadership. This implies that the team should have the authoritative control of the team with final decisions by the captain, Shubman Gill, on the selections and tactics, though not overrule the coach and even when the coach advises.
Recent Selection Controversies and Tactical Decisions
The Indian team’s selection decisions during the fourth Test, which ignored seasoned spinners like Kuldeep Yadav in favor of bowlers with more batting depth and speed, revived the controversy. This move was puzzling to many, given Kuldeep’s prior performances.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticized the captain and coach for the anti-spin tendencies of the team. He said the coaching staff, especially Gambhir, ought to have been more proactive in exerting influence in making tactical calls, especially those made concerning bowling changes involving off-spinner Washington Sundar.
Gautam Gambhir’s Role and Challenges as Head Coach
Gambhir, who was appointed as head coach in July 2024, has had an average performance in the test case. Even though India won the Champions Trophy under his supervision, the Test squad suffered a setback, with an unexpected whitewash in the home series against New Zealand and a challenging defeat in Australia.
But the recent record win against England at Edgbaston has relieved some of the burden off Gambhir and provided the coach with a huge dose of positive morale. The victory revealed how strong the team can become with the Gill-Gambhir leadership duo and how the new formation can be stabilized after the departure of older players.
Conclusion
The former India captain Sunil Gavaskar’s insights put an end to speculation by affirming that the Test cricket team is indeed Shubman Gill’s team and not Gautam Gambhir’s. While the coach holds important influence behind the scenes, the captain is the leader who commands the playing XI and leads the dressing room.
Such single-handed focus of responsibility will assist in honing the leadership interplay, which will be vital as India, post-Kohli and Rohit Sharma regime, puts things back in shape. With Shubman Gill still developing his leadership skills and Gautam Gambhir adjusting as the head coach, the fans of Indian cricket have the hope that this combination will provide steady success in Tests during difficult road trips, such as the current one against England.
