Shubman Gill just a Paper Captain? KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant dragged in shocking exposé

Former India National Cricket Team spin bowler Murali Kartik was not at all impressed with the leadership of Shubman Gill in his debut match as the Test captain.

Murali Kartik opined that Shubman Gill couldn't take the command of the team properly and Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, as well as Rishabh Pant had to intervene several times, making it seem like there were 'too many captains' in the Indian Test team.

Shubman Gill loses his first Test match as skipper

Following Rohit Sharma's Test retirement, Shubman Gill was chosen as his successor by the BCCI selection committee, and he became the 37th captain of the Indian Test team.

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Gill made his debut as Test captain in the series-opening clash against the England National Cricket Team at Headingley in Leeds and became the fifth youngest player to captain India in the longest format of the game at 25 years and 285 days.

The youngest Indian Test captain remains Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (21 years, 77 days), followed by Sachin Tendulkar (23 years, 169 days), Kapil Dev (24 years, 48 days), and Ravi Shastri (25 years, 229 days).

Gill impressed with the bat in his debut innings as Test captain as he slammed his fastest Test fifty, reaching the milestone in just 56 balls.

He then converted it into a big score, finishing with 147 runs off 227 balls, with 19 fours and 1 six. Shubman Gill became the 33rd player to score a hundred on Test captaincy debut and the fifth Indian to achieve the feat.

His batting was highly impressive, but the same thing can't he said about his leadership. He came under scanner for his defensive approach, and at times senior opener KL Rahul and vice-captain Rishabh Pant were seen calling the shots.

On Day 5, Rahul was also seen doing most of the talking in the huddle and setting up the field. Eventually, nothing worked as England won the match by 5 wickets in Leeds.

I felt as if there were too many captains. I could not understand that - Murali Kartik

Speaking after the match, Murali Kartik said that he was left confused over who was truly in charge in Shubman Gill's debut game as skipper.

"We can look for excuses but the problem is that we scored 835 runs, one bowler picked up five wickets and despite that India lost the game by five wickets. I felt as if there were too many captains. I could not understand that.

"Sometimes KL Rahul was suggesting things, Rishabh Pant was suggesting things, Shubman Gill was doing it too, who is the actual appointed captain. I could not understand these signals being made. There is one captain," Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

"I understand that if a senior player sees someone out of the place once or twice they make suggestions but it kept happening again and again which is not a good sign," he added.

It looked at a point as though Gill was feeling the pressure - Murali Kartik

Murali Kartik further stated that Shubman Gill came under tremendous pressure when the bowlers were unable to get timely breakthroughs while defending 371.

"It looked at a point as though Gill was feeling the pressure. He kept placing fielders wherever the ball went. It is not as easy to stamp your authority as captain.

"You did it with your batting but when your bowlers do not perform it becomes very tough and it was evident. 371 runs are a lot of runs. It never looked as though any wicket was going to fall in the first session," he added.

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