Comparing Gill’s intensity and aggression to that of former Indian captain Virat Kohli, Panesar opined that a talented but complacent Gill will never be able to replicate an all-format player like Kohli.
“He is a complacent cricketer. He has a lot of talent but he has started playing lazy shots in the game. Virat Kohli’s intensity and aggression are 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 said as quoted by India Today.
The former spinner also commented on the current framework of the red-ball scene in India. Panesar noted that India still has a long way to go when it comes to rebranding itself in the longest format.
“Indian players are not ready for Test cricket. Players who do well in T20s and ODIs do not necessarily perform in Tests. The gap between the Ranji Trophy and the Indian Test team is wide. 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 good comeback in Test cricket,” he added.
Gill was India‘s T20I vice-captain, which was an additional charge on top of his full-time leadership in Test and ODI formats. However, the vice-captaincy was handed over to Axar Patel for the mega event, with Gill completely ignored. Gill was dropped after a disappointing run in T20Is for India in 2025. Gill could only score 43 runs in the three ODIs he played against Australia recently.
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