Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Ian Smith expressed his dissatisfaction with Shubman Gill’s captaincy during the third ODI between India and New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, on Sunday.
After early breakthroughs from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana put New Zealand on the back foot, India failed to capitalise on the momentum. The hosts struggled to find answers as Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips combined for a commanding partnership that swung the game firmly in New Zealand’s favour.
As the stand grew, India’s bowlers were unable to break through, and questions were raised over Gill’s on-field leadership. During the death overs, KL Rahul was seen actively directing field placements from behind the stumps, while Gill appeared short of ideas. Smith felt the Indian skipper needed to be more proactive and visible during pressure situations.
“I know Shubman Gill is still learning the art of captaincy, but even now you can see KL Rahul chatting to Arshdeep,” Smith said on commentary. “Those are typically jobs that vice-captains do.”
Smith also criticised Gill’s positioning on the field, suggesting it removed him from the action at crucial moments.
“Shubman Gill is now standing at long-off, which basically takes him out of the play. As a captain, you’ve got to be part of the action, especially when your team is under pressure,” he added.
However, Smith acknowledged the challenges Gill faces as a young captain leading a side filled with senior players and former leaders.
“This is a tough team to captain as a young player because of the people around you,” Smith said. “You’ve got KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, all former captains, along with other senior players like Shreyas Iyer. It’s not always easy to take charge effectively in such an environment.”
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