Manoj Tiwary questions Shubman Gill’s appointment as Test captain

Former Indian batter Manoj Tiwary questioned Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s new Test skipper. Gill has been backed by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.

However, Tiwary questioned how someone who doesn’t fit in the playing XI be made captain of the team. Gill is only averaging 35 in the red-ball version and his average drops to 25 while playing outside the subcontinent.

Many experts wanted Jasprit Bumrah as India’s new Test captain but Agarkar revealed the ace fast bowler was not considered for the leadership role as he won’t be available for all five Test matches against England.

Manoj Tiwary said on Cricbuzz, “He was the second-best option. But how can someone who doesn’t even fit in the Playing XI be made captain? So I feel the logic here was that they looked at who the second-best option was, and that was Gill, and that is how it happened.”

On the other hand, former Indian Test opener Virender Sehwag concurred with selectors’ decision to not appoint Jasprit Bumrah as the new Test captain because of injury woes. However, Sehwag said Rishabh Pant would have been a better choice than Shubman Gill.

Sehwag added on the same platform, “For a series, Bumrah is okay. But as a long-term option, you need to ask if India play 10 Tests in a year, will he be able to play all those matches? Or, how many matches can he play? That is a major factor in picking a captain. So that I feel was the right decision, because they felt they could not put that pressure and load on Bumrah. Tiwary said Gill is the second-best, but I feel that is Rishabh Pant, and Gill is the third-best.”

The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.