Shubman Gill’s tenure as India’s Test captain, according to former batsman Robin Uthappa, is still a work in progress, particularly in terms of developing and trusting spin resources. Uthappa believes that India’s problems in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle highlight the need for improved bowling management, especially of spinners like Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, even if Gill has demonstrated promise as a young leader.
Gill’s captaincy has been seriously damaged by the recent home Test series loss to South Africa. Despite the team’s 2-2 draw in the Test series in England, the overall outcomes have prompted concerns regarding tactical judgement and resource management. The task of turning from a lead batter into a full-fledged Test captain now falls on Gill, who has assumed leadership roles in both ODIs and Test matches.
Robin Uthappa noted that by not completely supporting spinners like Sundar during matches, Gill can be inadvertently undermining them. He clarified that captains may be reluctant to give some bowlers long spells because they believe they are easier to play. This kind of thinking can hinder a bowler’s development and ultimately hurt the squad, according to Robin Uthappa.
“I believe Shubman must have faith in Washington Sundar as a captain. Some players don’t appreciate skill as much as others because they believe they can defeat a bowler with ease. Human nature is that way. It has previously occurred in Indian cricket. However, Washington and Kuldeep must play a lot of Test matches and bowl a lot of overs for Indian cricket to advance,” Robin Uthappa stated on his YouTube channel.
The bowling unit ought to be fired: Robin Uthappa
The former highlighted India’s potent batting lineup but underlined that a potent bowling attack is essential for series wins. He pointed out that bowlers win series, even though batsmen can win individual games. Even during difficult parts of a game, captains must make investments in bowlers to maintain that balance.
“We can win games with batting, but the bowling unit must perform well to win a series. You must cultivate players for that. Bowlers need to be given more visibility. Make Kuldeep Yadav accustomed to bowling 20–25 overs.
Longer spells are seen to be necessary for Kuldeep Yadav to develop rhythm and confidence as a bowler. According to Uthappa, letting Kuldeep bowl 20 to 25 overs on a regular basis would help him become a match-winner and adjust to the demands of Test cricket.
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