Did Gill's injury decide the series?

[rollingstoned]

Much of what we were seeing on the field while we were bowling especially could be put down to a lack of effective leadership. Pant tried his best to be vocal and proactive IMO but after the England series and the series last yr against England at home Gill had become a senior statesman-in-waiting and captain elect whose leadership the rest of the team had come to accept.

This is not even going into what we were missing with him as a batsman when it seemed like we started our first innings alright in the first test and his injury completely *ed us IMO. It doesn't feel like one person missing would have reversed a thrashing but every thing makes a difference and adds up. 

[cricketfan28]

No, boys are not ready.

[Gollum]

His reluctance to bat in Kolkata certainly affected us badly. Wasn't expecting any miracle knock, just some defiance which would have lifted the team up, as great leaders are expected to do. 

 

Here, Bumrah should have led us. Pant is a horrible, horrible captain. 

[vvvslaxman]

There is one aspect that looked 10 times worse which was captaincy. When SA was staring down the barrell and even South African media conceded SA was going to lose our genius think tank came up with an idea of opening the bowling with Axar patel.

[Trichromatic]

Gill's absence was huge loss in many aspects.

[rollingstoned]

1 hour ago, vvvslaxman said:

There is one aspect that looked 10 times worse which was captaincy. When SA was staring down the barrell and even South African media conceded SA was going to lose our genius think tank came up with an idea of opening the bowling with Axar patel.

First test Bavuma was the difference and that was all leadership. No one here at least thought we would be getting outplayed before series began. People felt in England there was a chance it might be one sided.

[The Realist]

Where is Gill?.

 

Strategically gone AWOL?

[Lord]

No. Rabada was missing too.

 

If both played Rabada would have got him most times himself 

[Lord]

5 hours ago, Gollum said:

His reluctance to bat in Kolkata certainly affected us badly. Wasn't expecting any miracle knock, just some defiance which would have lifted the team up, as great leaders are expected to do. 

 

Here, Bumrah should have led us. Pant is a horrible, horrible captain. 

Bumrah won us Perth. I dont understand the need for different vice captain every series 

[rollingstoned]

6 hours ago, Lord said:

No. Rabada was missing too.

 

If both played Rabada would have got him most times himself 

There is no reason if one hypothetically plays the other also has to play to even things out. it doesn't answer the question, Gill was supposed to fail in England too against the moving ball.

[Lord]

Just now, rollingstoned said:

There is no reason if one hypothetically plays the other also has to play to even things out. it doesn't answer the question, Gill was supposed to fail in England too against the moving ball.

 

Those were pattas where everyone scored even KL. He has had regular issues v spin and incoming ball. 

 

All I am saying we can't use this an excuse. Team was beaten so badly that 1-2 players won't have made a difference

[rollingstoned]

5 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

Those were pattas where everyone scored even KL. He has had regular issues v spin and incoming ball. 

 

All I am saying we can't use this an excuse. Team was beaten so badly that 1-2 players won't have made a difference

I don't know, a captain missing is not a small issue IMO. It's not like he was injured before the series, he got injured during the match.

[jf1gp_1]

These series was a reminder how important gills 700+ runs in England series. While most wont acknowledge, Gill would have ensured us winning first test. 

[adi B]

2 hours ago, jf1gp_1 said:

These series was a reminder how important gills 700+ runs in England series. While most wont acknowledge, Gill would have ensured us winning first test. 

True ,had Gill been there we would have won the kolkata test for sure .

I still can't believe how we lost that test match , one of the biggest blunder in ict history !

[helperononline]

On 11/26/2025 at 10:39 PM, The Realist said:

 

[helperononline]

Gill is missing for long. The selectors are delaying announcement of the T20 squad and if Gill does not become fit then he may as well lose his spot.

In short Gill will become fit before T20 

[express bowling]

We badly missed Gill, the batsman.

 

Gill, the captain, has settled down too after England 25. And gels well with coach Gambhir. Would have been much better than awful captain Pant. 

[mani sha]

Gill , the right handed batsman was missed as much as the captain . The of spinner got easy targets with a left handed lineup . 
 

second test , s khan should have been called up . We made tactical errors . Also , in place of reddy , a ruturaj or a Sampson would have changed the game. 
 

key issues - 

 

team selection. 
lack of specialists of spin 

too many rhb

Playing in centres like Guwahati - as foreign to us as South Africa . Bcci needs to have 7-8 test venues where we are strong .