Aswin highlighted what he described as a lack of clarity in resource management during the middle overs, identifying this as a key factor behind India’s defeats in the second and third ODIs. He compared Gill’s approach to the tactical acumen of former captains MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who, according to Ashwin, consistently excelled in using their bowling resources effectively.
“Why are we praising Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as much as captains? Because they know where to use the resources and when to use the resources, and against which batsman. That was a bit lacking [in this series]. You should not lose confidence in a bowler based on the previous game,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
The veteran questioned Gill’s deployment of Kuldeep Yadav, especially during the third ODI against New Zealand’s middle order in which Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. He suggested that Gill was reluctant to trust his bowlers at critical moments, possibly influenced by the results of previous matches.
The former Indian cricketer was particularly critical of Gill’s handling of Kuldeep, arguing that the captain failed to exploit visible technical weaknesses in the New Zealand middle order. He felt that Kuldeep should have been used more aggressively to break key partnerships. The Chennai native further believes that Gill had no Plan B.
“I would have liked to see two-over spells if it was the same Glenn Phillips had to face Kuldeep Yadav through the middle overs in two-over spells… give one run to Daryl Mitchell, try to bowl around the stumps. If you use the resources properly and there is a malfunction, then it’s done. The point is to bowl your best bowlers at the right time,” he concluded.
As India look ahead to future assignments, attention will continue to be on Gill’s evolution as a leader and his ability to balance personal performance with the demands of captaincy. It also remains to be seen whether head coach Gautam Gambhir will incorporate Ashwin’s observations into the team’s tactical planning going forward.
Get every cricket update! Follow us:
#IND #India #great #compares #Shubman #Gills #captaincy #skills #Dhoni #Rohit #Sharma