Greg Chappell slams Shubman Gill for India’s loss against England at Lord’s

Chappell called on Gill to improve communication, but also agreed that Jadeja did a good job.

Greg Chappell, a legendary Australian cricketer,acknowledged Ravindra Jadeja’s strong performance in the Tests but criticized India Test captain Shubman Gill for India’s loss at Lord’s. He praised Jadeja’s ability to handle pressure on Day 5 of the 3rd Test, but suggested he should have been more aggressive with the tail.

Greg Chappell slams Shubman Gill for India’s loss at the Lord’s.

Greg Chappell said that Ravindra Jadeja shielded JaspritBumrah and Mohammed Siraj well, but he also had to look for boundaries if India was to win the match. In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Chappell asked, “The Lord’s Test also provided a telling moment with the way Jadeja was managed late in the match. Left with the tail, Jadeja did what many specialist batters do in that situation: he shielded the tail, farmed the strike, and played conservatively. On the surface, it was a disciplined innings. But was it the right one?”

Clarity should have come from the captain, said Chappell.

Chappell added, “The truth is, Jadeja was the only recognised batter left. If India were to chase down the target, he had to take calculated risks. His job wasn’t to leave balls and collect singles; it was to win the match. That clarity should have come from the dressing room, from the captain. He needed to be told directly: ‘You are the man who has to get this done. The tail’s job is to hang in there with you, but you must go for the win.’” He also said, “We saw exactly that from England’s Ben Stokes against Australia in Leeds in 2019. In a similar situation, he backed himself and produced one of the best innings of the past 50 years. Importantly, Stokes played that innings knowing that, succeed or fail, his team and leadership would have his back. That’s the mindset that needs to be fostered in any great team.”

Greg Chappell went on to add, “And this is where Gill’s leadership challenge becomes very real. He must start setting those expectations – clearly, proactively, and consistently. Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone – not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards.”