Former cricketer explains why Shubman Gill cannot be all-format captain of India

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The debate around India’s future leadership has intensified after former England spinner questioned whether Shubman Gill is ready to shoulder the responsibility of being India’s all-format captain. While acknowledging Gill’s immense batting talent, the ex-cricketer believes the young star lacks the intensity and mental edge required to lead the national side consistently across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Speaking candidly, Monty Panesar argued that captaincy at the highest level demands more than runs and technique. According to him, Gill’s approach under pressure often drifts toward complacency, something that could become a liability when combined with the tactical and emotional demands of leadership. The former left-arm spinner stressed that being an all-format captain in modern cricket is an “all-consuming role” that only a handful of players can truly manage.

Panesar drew a sharp comparison between Gill and former India captain Virat Kohli, widely regarded as one of India’s most intense leaders. He pointed out that Kohli’s aggression, energy, and relentless standards were visible regardless of the format or match situation, setting a benchmark for leadership.

“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. Shubman Gill can’t do that. It’s too much burden for him. He can’t be the captain of all formats,” Panesar said, as quoted by India Today.

According to Panesar, the issue is not Gill’s skill set but the additional mental load that comes with leadership. He suggested that piling captaincy responsibilities across formats could dilute Gill’s batting focus, potentially stalling his growth as a premier batter.

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Beyond individual leadership, Panesar also highlighted deeper structural issues within Indian cricket, particularly in the red-ball format. He believes India is still some distance away from rebuilding a dominant Test side, citing a widening gap between domestic cricket and the international level.

Panesar emphasized that the transition from the Ranji Trophy to Test cricket remains steep, with four-day cricket demanding patience, discipline, and sustained hard work. He further noted that financial and structural challenges in domestic red-ball cricket affect player motivation. With Test cricket and domestic four-day competitions offering less financial incentive compared to T20 leagues, maintaining focus and commitment becomes harder for emerging players.

“Indian players are not ready for Test cricket. Players who do well in T20s and ODIs don’t necessarily perform in Tests. The gap between the Ranji Trophy and the Indian Test team is big. 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. India will need patience to make a proper comeback in Test cricket,” added Panesar.

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