Star New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Ian Smith voiced his criticism of Shubman Gill’s captaincy during the third ODI between India and New Zealand in Indore on Sunday. New Zealand began their innings shakily, losing early wickets due to tight bowling from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. However, India struggled to maintain their momentum, and a significant partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips turned the match in favor of the tourists, establishing a solid lead.
Gill seemed to exhaust his strategies after this partnership, with India’s bowlers failing to create breakthroughs. In the crucial death overs, it was KL Rahul who adjusted the field from behind the stumps, underscoring the perceived absence of decisive leadership from Gill.
Reflecting on the match, Smith remarked that Gill should adopt a more proactive approach as captain, particularly in difficult situations. “I know that Shubman Gill is just learning the art of captaincy. But there’s a lot, even now KL Rahul is discussing strategies with Arshdeep, which are typically the responsibilities of vice captains,” he noted during the commentary. He emphasized the importance of being involved in the action, stating, “Shubman Gill is now moving to long-off, which essentially takes him out of play. As captain, you need to be part of the action, especially when your team is under pressure.”
Smith acknowledged the challenge Gill faces in leading a team filled with seasoned players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. “As a young player, I understand this is a tough team to captain due to the presence of several former captains among your senior players,” he commented. He listed, “You’ve got Rahul, you’ve got Virat Kohli, of course, Rohit Sharma, along with Shreyas Iyer, making it difficult to take the reins effectively.”
Despite a rocky start for New Zealand, the partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, which exceeded 200 runs, propelled the Black Caps to a formidable total of 337/8, putting them in a strong position in this decisive ODI series against India.
Original Source: https://www.india.com/sports/shubman-gill-criticized-for-his-captaincy-in-3rd-odi-vs-new-zealand-got-to-be-part-of-8273401/
Category: Sports,Arshdeep Singh,Daryl Mitchell,Glenn Phillips,Harshit Rana,Ian Smith,Ind vs NZ,KL Rahul,Rohit Sharma,Shubman Gill,Virat Kohli
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Publish Date: 2026-01-19 16:10:00
