“Tactically, a lot was missing” - Ravi Shastri slams Shubman Gill for his poor captaincy tactics on Day 3

Former Team India head coach and commentator Ravi Shastri has slammed the newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill for his poor captaincy skills on the third day of the ongoing Manchester Test as the visitors are trailing by 1-2.

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At stumps on Day 3, England finished at 544/7 in 135 overs, leading by 186 runs in the first innings. While Joe Root smacked 150 runs in 248 balls with 14 fours, Ben Stokes is still at the crease on 77 runs in 134 balls with six fours.

Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket, Ravi Shastri criticized Gill for bringing in Washington Sundar around the 70th over. Notably, Sundar played a crucial role with the ball in the previous Test at Lord’s, scalping a four-wicket haul.

"He took four wickets in the last game. Then you bring that bloke after 67, 69 overs. I mean, what does it tell that player? Here, I've taken four. I should be like a front-runner, bowling within the first 30, 35 overs. And you're getting me on after 69. And then he takes the first two wickets. So tactically, I thought they were found wanting. I thought Siraj should have taken the new ball yesterday. Instead of giving it to Kamboj, who's new, playing his first Test match. That let the pressure off England. Then the bouncer tactic, which they're 24 hours late. That should have been tried yesterday to see if they could have made further inroads. So tactically a lot was missing," said Shastri.

However, Shastri further felt that Gill would improve his captaincy skills in the upcoming games after taking advice from the Indian team management, Gautam Gambhir, and senior players in the squad. 

"I'll cite an example of Virat when he took over. He was the other way, as far as Shubman goes. He was extra, ultra-aggressive. Where you had to, at times, from the dressing room, calm him down, especially with field placing. It was a case of as if you wanted five wickets every session of play. It doesn't happen. Sometimes you've got to, you know, respect the conditions and set fields accordingly. And that's why I think the team management becomes now crucial in helping someone like Shubman Gill over the first year and a half. I think that is the key," he added.

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