India’s young star Shubman Gill has come under fire for allegedly trying to mimic Virat Kohli’s aggressive captaincy style—something critics say is affecting both his composure and performance.
Tiwary Says Aggression Backfired at Lord’s
Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary voiced concern over Gill’s behavior during the recent Lord’s Test, where the young skipper failed to deliver with the bat. Gill scored just 16 and 6 in both innings, and India lost a close match while chasing a modest 193-run target.
“I don’t like the way captain Gill is going about things. I think he’s trying to copy what Virat did last time. And as a result, it is not helping his batting,” Tiwary told SportsBoom.
Gill’s Aggressive Side Sparks Debate
Gill, who has been lauded for centuries at Headingley and Edgbaston earlier in the series, showed a noticeably different side at Lord’s. He got into a heated exchange with England’s Zak Crawley and displayed visible frustration on the field—behavior that many believe is uncharacteristic of him.
Tiwary referred to Gill’s on-field behavior as IPL captain, especially during a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad where he confronted the fourth umpire after a run-out. “Ever since he became a captain in the IPL, I’ve noticed him becoming more aggressive and having animated chats with umpires,” Tiwary said.
“He Doesn’t Need to Prove Anything”
The veteran Bengal batter stressed that Gill doesn’t need to mimic anyone to prove his mettle. “This kind of aggression isn’t necessary. Gill has always been calm, composed, and focused. He doesn’t have to change that.”
Advice: Lead with Performance, Not Words
Tiwary offered a word of advice—be aggressive, but on your own terms. “He can stick to his own style of aggression. That doesn’t mean you have to constantly respond verbally. You can show aggression by winning Test matches,” he said.
He further added, “India could’ve led the series 2-1. But this kind of emotional intensity doesn’t help the team—especially when it comes from the captain.”
Caught on Stump Mic: “Grow Some Fing Bs”
Gill’s frustration boiled over during Day 3 of the Lord’s Test when Zak Crawley was accused of wasting time. The Indian skipper was caught on the stump mic yelling, “Get some bs, grow some fking b**s,” which sparked outrage and drew criticism for poor conduct.
Tiwary responded sharply: “I’m not happy with the kind of language being picked up on stump mics. You’re representing Team India. Just because some past captains behaved like this doesn’t mean it should continue. These things get picked up by the next generation.”
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