Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has slammed India’s Test captain Shubman Gill, stating the young player is complacent and not yet ready to meet the challenges of all three formats on the international stage.
While recognizing Gill’s inherent skill, Panesar noted that the batter often delivers “lazy shots” in games and lacks the intensity that characterized Virat Kohli’s performances in all formats.
‘Not Ready for the Job’: Monty Panesar Casts Doubt Over Gill as India’s All-Format Leader
“He is an self-satisfied cricketer.” He possesses considerable talent, yet he begins making careless plays during the match. Virat Kohli’s passion and fierceness are apparent in every format. Shubhman Gill is unable to accomplish that. Excessive weight for him. He cannot be the leader in all formats. “It is overwhelming for him,” Panesar informed ANI.
Panesar’s comments arrive as India has faced challenges in Test cricket under head coach Gautam Gambhir, enduring two whitewash losses — 3-0 to New Zealand and 2-0 to South Africa.
Regarding Gambhir’s time as coach, Monty Panesar noted that the ex-India opener has established himself as a white-ball coach but requires more time and experience with red-ball cricket.
Gautam Gambhir excels as a coach in white-ball cricket due to his achievements. He might take on the role of Ranji Trophy coach and ought to consult with coaches experienced in the Ranji Trophy regarding team building in red ball cricket.
Currently, the Indian team is not strong in Test cricket. This is the truth. It’s not very powerful. It requires time. “When you lose three key players, it becomes challenging to keep the others prepared,” the former England cricketer remarked.
Monty Panesar emphasized the absence of Virat Kohli in Test cricket, noting that although India has coped without him in white-ball formats, his influence is evidently lacking in the longest format.
“In white-ball cricket, Virat Kohli won’t be greatly missed.” Indeed, in Test Cricket, it’s clear that Virat Kohli is absent, resulting in a decrease in the team’s intensity.
The ex-left-arm spinner additionally asserted that Indian cricketers lack proper preparation for red-ball cricket, contending that young players mainly concentrate on obtaining IPL contracts instead of dedicating the effort needed for four-day matches.
“Indian players are unprepared for Test Cricket.” He stated, “In India, athletes who excel in T20 and ODI do not succeed in Test Cricket.”
Pointing out systemic problems, Monty Panesar noted that the disparity between domestic cricket and the national Test team is still significant.
“The difference between the Ranji Trophy and India’s Test squad is considerable.” The Ranji Trophy structure is likewise quite fragile. The boys only wish to participate in the IPL. They aim to secure a large contract. They wish to compete in T20I and ODI. Playing 4-day cricket requires significant effort. “That’s the reason they aim to allocate less time,” Panesar stated.
“They earn higher profits in T20 cricket.” They earn lower salaries in Test Cricket. However, the truth is that the domestic cricket of the Ranji Trophy is quite frail. “It will require time for India to return to form in Test cricket,” he stated.