'Gill looked like he was reaching out for help, not many leaders in the team' - Kaif highlights India's shortcomings after Colombo Test

India won the series 1-0 against Sri Lanka, but the squad returned home disappointed after the drawn second Test at Colombo from August 23-27, 2026. India had dominated the first four days and made Sri Lanka follow on after declaring at 503 for 9 in 138 overs, with Sri Lanka bowled out for 290 in their first innings. However, Sri Lanka's second-innings resistance, powered by Dinusha's second century, saw them escape with a draw and avoid a whitewash.

Mohammad Kaif analysed the match and raised concerns about captain Shubman Gill's leadership during the final stages of the Test. Gill captained India for the first time in Tests during the England tour in June-August 2025, and has since led the team in the West Indies in October 2025, where India won the 2-match series 2-0, and beat Afghanistan in a one-off encounter in June 2026. However, the 0-2 whitewash against South Africa in the middle has been a bitter pill to swallow. The Punjab batter was the captain in the first Test but missed the second one due to an injury, where then-vice-captain Rishabh Pant led the side.

"Shubman Gill, somewhere in the middle, looked like he was reaching out for help. He did not have too many experienced players in his team either. KL Rahul is there, of course, as the vice-captain, Rishabh Pant is there, and Jadeja has played around 90 Test matches, but he does not really come into the leadership role. They did not have many leadership-type players in the team." Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Kaif observed that Gill frequently consulted with his bowlers during the match, particularly in the final innings when India sought to force a result. The former India batsman noted tactical inconsistencies in India's approach against Sri Lanka's lower-order batsmen, especially in the closing stages when the team appeared uncertain about its strategy.

"Many times, I saw Shubman Gill going up to the bowlers, and there were also instances when they bowled two wides down the leg side. You would think, ‘We are trying to keep Sonal away, so let’s bowl a dot ball. It is the last ball of the over, so let’s bowl it outside.’ They had planned things to that extent throughout the Test match," Kaif said.

"It was something we had never really seen before. The Indian team looked so helpless at times. Against Sonal, they were trying to bowl a dot ball with the last ball of the over. So overall, I think Shubman Gill will be a little disappointed," he added.

Gill's captaincy record prior to the Colombo Test showed limited experience in four-day cricket at the domestic level. Despite his extensive white-ball credentials and growing international Test exposure, his pathway to the captaincy had not followed the traditional route through India's domestic structure.

"Shubman Gill has only captained in two Ranji Trophy matches. That is it. He does not have much four-day experience. He has white-ball experience, yes, but he has been playing more four-day and five-day matches with the Indian team. He has not really come through the ranks by captaining in the Ranji Trophy," Kaif stated.

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir lauds Sonal Dinusha after drawn Colombo Test

Kaif outlined the conventional transition model for young captains, emphasising the value of mentorship from senior players during the early years of leadership. He suggested that gradual handovers allowed captains to develop their skills and understanding of the role before assuming full responsibility.

"So, how does a transition happen? You have senior players in your team, and a new player becomes captain. He stays with the seniors for a year or two, and by spending time with them, he also learns. By the time the seniors leave, you have already captained for three or four years. You have covered all the angles and learned along the way, right?" Kaif said.