'He can't match Kohli; can't be all-format captain' - Former England star gives stunning verdict on 'complacent' Shubman Gill

Published - 29 Dec 2025, 15:17 IST | Updated - 29 Dec 2025, 15:18 IST

Former English cricketer Monty Panesar has dropped a huge statement on Shubman Gill concerning the latter's all-format abilities. Gill was recently snubbed from India's 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Panesar compared Gill's intensity and aggression to that of former India captain Virat Kohli and opined that a talented but complacent Gill will never be able to replicate an all-format player like Kohli.

"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," stated Panesar, as quoted by India Today.

The erstwhile spinner also commented on the current framework of India's red-ball scene. Panesar noted that India has a long way to go when it comes to rebranding themself in the longest format.

"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," he added.

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Gill was India's T20I vice-captain, which was an additional charge over his full-time leadership in Test and ODI formats. However, the vice-captaincy was handed over to Axar Patel for the mega event, with Gill being ingnored altogether. Gill was dropped on the back of an underwhelming run in T20Is for India in 2025. Gill was able to score only 43 runs in the three ODIs he recently played against Australia.