After the past leadership of India, the debate regarding future leadership has intensified. England The spinner asked whether Shubman Gill Ready to take the responsibility of being the captain of all formats of India. Acknowledging Gill’s immense batting talent, the former cricketer believes that the young star lacks the intensity and mental edge required to consistently lead the national team in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Former cricketer questions Shubman Gill’s temperament for leadership across all formats
I am speaking openly, Monty Panesar Argued that captaincy at the highest level demands more than runs and technique. According to him, Gill’s approach under pressure often veers towards complacency, something that when combined with the tactical and emotional demands of leadership can become a liability. The former left-arm spinner stressed that being a captain across all formats in modern cricket is an “all-consuming role” that only a handful of players can truly handle.
Panesar made a sharp comparison between Gill and the former Indian captain Virat KohliWidely considered one of India’s most brilliant leaders. He pointed out that Kohli’s aggressiveness, energy and tireless standards are visible regardless of the format or match situation, setting a standard for leadership.
“He is a complacent cricketer. He has a lot of talent, but he starts playing lazy shots in the game. Virat Kohli’s intensity and aggression is evident in all formats. Shubman Gill cannot do that. It is too much of a burden for him. He cannot be the captain of all formats,” Panesar was quoted as saying by India Today.
According to Panesar, the issue is not Gill’s skill set but the extra mental load that comes with leadership. He suggested that increased captaincy responsibilities across formats could weaken Gill’s batting focus, potentially stunting his development as a leading batsman.
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Concerns over India’s red ball structure
Beyond individual leadership, Panesar also highlighted deeper structural issues within Indian cricket, particularly in the red ball format. Citing the growing gap between domestic cricket and the international level, he believes India is still some way away from rebuilding a major Test team.
Panesar stressed that while the transition from Ranji Trophy to Test cricket remains difficult, four-day cricket requires patience, discipline and constant hard work. He further said that the financial and structural challenges in domestic red-ball cricket affect player motivation. Test cricket and domestic four-day competitions offer less financial incentives than T20 leagues, making it difficult for emerging players to maintain focus and commitment.
“Indian players are not ready for Test cricket. Players who perform well in T20s and ODIs do not necessarily perform well in Tests. The difference between the Ranji Trophy and the Indian Test team is huge. Four-day cricket requires hard work and patience. Test cricket pays less, and that affects the focus. The Ranji Trophy system is weak at the moment. India will need patience to make a proper comeback in Test cricket.”Panesar said.
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