Does Shubman Gill averaging only 35 in test deserves captaincy?

[crictime]

Indian Test squad against England has been announced today. Shubman Gill is the newly appointed captain and Rishabh Pant gets the vice captain's role.

 

Shubman has failed to justify his place in tests. His test record is as follows:

 

Matches : 32

Innnings: 59

NO: 5

Runs: 1893

Highest : 128

Batting Average : 35.05

100's : 5

50's : 7

 

 

32 tests chances is a lot. Considering the opportunities he has got to represent India and being given such a long run, inspite of dropping him as a test batsman from squad,  they have picked him as a captain. Not only his test batting below average, he also apparently has insecurity and jealousy about youngsters who have done well than him.

 

 

For the record, all rounder Yuvraj Singh had test average of 33 and he was in no way a quality test match batsman. 

 

How cheap has a place in Indian Test team become, that the selectors continue to select below par batsmen in test cricket. Moreover, they also have the audacity to make such non-performer a captain of a team which has been in top 3 ranks since the WTC started. 

 

 

[cowboysfan]

nope but we are in a transition period, let's see how we perform 

[Gollum]

How did he do against NZ and Aus last season? Did he average even 20?

[Manucrick]

Hope god save us

[rkt.india]

Captaincy got nothing to do with batting. In fact, the best batsman shouldn't be a captain. 

[rkt.india]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

How did he do against NZ and Aus last season? Did he average even 20?

Run scoring isn't the criteria to become a captain. He had the second best average after pant against NZ. 

Edited May 24, 2025 by rkt.india

[Suhaan]

Besides his batting credentials,his insecurity may force him sabotage our plans

He is a typical paindu insecure individual

[SandeepMotta]

33 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

Besides his batting credentials,his insecurity may force him sabotage our plans

He is a typical paindu insecure individual

This. I really doubt anyone new talents will blossom under him. He is a typical Chapri. Even the timid Kl would have been better.

[Suhaan]

5 minutes ago, SandeepMotta said:

This. I really doubt anyone new talents will blossom under him. He is a typical Chapri. Even the timid Kl would have been better.

Yes,only good thing is he's not some earth shattering prodigy who has has tremendous record,he will be kicked out , if he bites more than he can chew

[tweaker]

He was shortlisted as " Prince" long ago.

His perfomance will not matter,even  if we loose 5-0

[zen]

1 hour ago, rkt.india said:

Captaincy got nothing to do with batting. In fact, the best batsman shouldn't be a captain. 

Exactly! Appears there is this misconception that the best averaging batsman or bowler should be the captain. 
 

 

[crictime]

20 minutes ago, tweaker said:

He was shortlisted as " Prince" long ago.

His perfomance will not matter,even  if we loose 5-0

This backing up of a non performer and maning him captain will create fault lines within the team. Doomed is the environment where mediocrity is rewarded and performers aren't.

[jf1gp_1]

As we enter new era wishing Shubham all the very best. Hope he is the most successful test captain and hope to see him bring home WTC trophy

[crictime]

42 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

Yes,only good thing is he's not some earth shattering prodigy who has has tremendous record,he will be kicked out , if he bites more than he can chew

But that is where the problem is. He is a failed test batsman and once he is his kicked out the team will go through another transition regarding captaincy etc. To avoid that they will have to keep him in playing 11 just because he is now the captain. That's the point really.

[Ultimate_Game]

Nope he shouldn't. Very poor choice for captaincy. Iyer was a much better choice as he has shown a lot of improvement over the last year or so, and has shown he can bring the team along. Plus Iyer can also average 35+ so its not as if Gill is breaking records as a batter.

 

Iyer at least has leadership skills while Gill is neither a good leader or a good batter.

[deathmonger]

Only good thing is pitches will be flatter and bowling not as incisive as in Australia.

[crictime]

33 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

Nope he shouldn't. Very poor choice for captaincy. Iyer was a much better choice as he has shown a lot of improvement over the last year or so, and has shown he can bring the team along. Plus Iyer can also average 35+ so its not as if Gill is breaking records as a batter.

 

Iyer at least has leadership skills while Gill is neither a good leader or a good batter.

Shreyas Iyer averages 36, a run more than Shubman Gill  Both have been below average in tests.

 

Shouldn't the selectors be giving new players a chance rather than hoping that iron turns into a diamond ?

[Ultimate_Game]

32 minutes ago, crictime said:

Shreyas Iyer averages 36, a run more than Shubman Gill  Both have been below average in tests.

 

Shouldn't the selectors be giving new players a chance rather than hoping that iron turns into a diamond ?

 

My point was that Iyer has shown a lot more than Gill. Since he was dropped and got back into the team, there has been a marked improvement in his game and he has leadership skills to boot. If you've to back one, Iyer deserves it much more than Gill who hasn't shown any improvement.

[Sean Bradley]

Should captain the women's team with that kind of a voice. 

[crictime]

37 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

My point was that Iyer has shown a lot more than Gill. Since he was dropped and got back into the team, there has been a marked improvement in his game and he has leadership skills to boot. If you've to back one, Iyer deserves it much more than Gill who hasn't shown any improvement.

The other option would have been better - drop both and give next batch of deserving batsmen enough chances.