From prince to leader: Gill’s leadership tested amid controversy

Dubai: Shubman Gill may still be early in his tenure as India’s Test captain, but the 25-year-old is already navigating the pressure cooker of leadership — both on and off the field. As India prepare for a must-win fourth Test at Old Trafford, Gill has found himself at the centre of controversy, accusing England of breaching the “spirit of cricket” with deliberate time-wasting tactics during the heated third Test at Lord’s.

In an unusually direct statement, Gill slammed England for arriving 90 seconds late to the crease and accused opener Zak Crawley of manipulating the closing stages of Day 3 to deny India a chance to bowl an extra over.

“Yes, most teams use delaying tactics, but there’s a manner to do it,” Gill said in Manchester on the eve of the fourth Test. “To come 90 seconds late is not in the spirit of the game.”

The moment, which culminated in Gill being caught on a stump mic swearing at Crawley, sparked headlines — and a wider debate about gamesmanship versus gamesmanship ethics.

While Gill admitted his language was regrettable, he stood firm on his larger point. “You’re playing to win and there are emotions. When you see things happening that shouldn’t, emotions come out,” he said.

Ponting: That’s the captain putting his stamp

The incident also triggered a range of reactions in the cricketing world. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting described Gill’s outburst as “uncharacteristic” but saw it as a sign of a leader willing to stand up for his team.

“That’s the captain really wanting to show that it’s his team now,” Ponting said on The ICC Review. “It reminded me a bit of Virat Kohli — not afraid to let his emotions show. I like that Gill is willing to put his stamp on the team.”

Ponting, however, stopped short of fully endorsing the tone of India’s on-field aggression. “England can be a tough place — the media, the crowds — it gets to you. But the best captains adapt under that pressure.”

Selection stress and fitness gambles

Gill’s leadership is also being tested by selection dilemmas. India trail 2-1 in the five-match series and face a delicate decision over whether to risk Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness at Old Trafford or save him for a potential decider.

“He’s the world’s best fast bowler,” said assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. “But we know we only have him for one more match — and the series could be over if we don’t win in Manchester.”

The strain has deepened with injuries to Nitish Kumar Reddy and Arshdeep Singh, meaning India may again have to lean on young all-rounder Washington Sundar.

Shastri and Ashwin back India’s new core

Former head coach Ravi Shastri has endorsed Sundar’s place in the XI, calling him a “genuine all-rounder” who can bat at No 6 and turn matches with his off-spin.

“He’s only 25 but I’ve always believed in him,” said Shastri. “He’s got the talent and temperament. In England or India, he’s an asset.”

Another vote of confidence came from Ravichandran Ashwin, but for a player under scrutiny: Karun Nair. With just 131 runs across three Tests, Nair’s form has sparked calls for his exclusion — but Ashwin defended the stylish right-hander.

“He’s made elegant, poised, beautiful runs,” said Ashwin. “He’s in solid touch. I’d like to see him get the full series, just like Kohli was backed in 2011.”

Stokes fires back

England captain Ben Stokes, meanwhile, brushed off Gill’s claims and promised no let-up in intensity. “It’s a massive series. We won’t start anything, but we won’t back down either,” he said, while also urging the ICC to relook at overrate penalties that have penalised seam-heavy teams.

As both teams gear up for a decisive clash, all eyes will be on how Gill channels the fire — as a batter, tactician, and leader. From a princely prodigy to the captain of India, this is his toughest Test yet.

— With inputs from agencies