Former India head coach Greg Chappell has challenged Shubman Gill to become a more effective communicator as captain, rather than depending exclusively on his batting performances. While Gill has performed admirably with the bat in his debut Test series as captain against England, India is now trailing 1-2 in the five-match series.
Chappell underlined that batting success will not be sufficient to build a winning squad. He emphasised that Gill must also focus on developing a strong team culture and communicating openly with players in order to define leadership beyond individual success. Gill made headlines with a century in his first Test as captain, followed by a career-best 269 and another hundred in the next game.
“Great captains are excellent communicators. Gill must become one, and quickly. Clear, calm communication is necessary at training, in the middle, and during breaks in the dressing room. His bat cannot always do the talking. He must learn to speak in a way that unifies the group, fosters belief, and builds trust,” Chappell said in his essay.
“The selectors and Gill must pick and stick. He must select the core group of players he trusts, develop a clear game plan, and communicate individual duties inside it. Every player should understand what is expected of them and how they fit in. Too frequently, players in struggling teams are left to figure things out on their own. “That can’t be left to chance at this level,” he said.
Chappell also suggested that Gill should take greater responsibility in setting the tone for the team, both in terms of attitude and fielding standards. He stressed that a captain’s influence extends beyond runs on the board and into the energy displayed on the field. Despite enduring twin failures in India’s defeat at Lord’s, the 25-year-old remains the leading run-scorer of the series by a significant margin.
“Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone – not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards. That means demanding discipline in the field. India cannot afford to slip back into being a poor fielding side. The best teams are superb in the field. They don’t give easy runs. They don’t drop chances,” Chappell wrote.
Greg Chappell acknowledged that the passion shown by Shubman Gill on the field during the Lord’s Test.
The young captain engaged in a verbal exchange with England opener Zak Crawley at the end of Day 3, displaying a more aggressive side to his leadership. However, some observers felt that this aggression may have affected his focus with the bat, as Gill was dismissed for just six runs, trapped LBW on Day 5 in the second innings.
“The Old Trafford Test is shaping to be the biggest examination yet for Gill – not just as a batter, but as a leader. He’s learning on the job, but the timeline is not generous. That doesn’t mean he can’t show emotion. In fact, his passion on the field at Lord’s was good to see. But actions like getting into Zak Crawley’s face over time wasting only matter if they are backed up by the hard work done behind the scenes,” Chappell concluded.
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