‘Captain should’ve directly told Ravindra Jadeja…’: Greg Chappell blames Shubman Gill for Lord’s defeat
Australian cricketer Greg Chappell praised Ravindra Jadeja’s efforts in handling the pressure but felt he should have been more proactive while batting with the tail. Although this criticism has often been directed at Jadeja despite his strong performance, Chappell’s viewpoint stands out as he equally blamed captain Shubman Gill for failing to guide Jadeja’s strategy during that crucial phase.
Although Jadeja did a good job of shielding Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, Chappell pointed out that if India were to win the game, he needed to go for boundaries. He pointed out that merely taking a single each over wouldn’t have been enough, especially with minimal contribution from the other end.
“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?” asked Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo.
Chappel cites Ben Stokes 2019 knock as example for India
The former India head coach said that Gill should have clearly instructed Jadeja to go for the win while the tailenders were still at the crease.
“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.
“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,” Chappell added.
Ravindra Jadeja batted for a duration of 3 hrs along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj and added 35 abd 23 runs respectively, but it was not enough to win the match. India lost the match by 22 runs.
Chappell points finger on Shubman Gill’s captaincy
Chappell pointed finger on Shubman Gill and said,”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,” he added.
Chappell highlighted on Gill’s captaincy and said that Gill needs to quickly acquire the communication skills that great captains possess. Whether in the dressing room, on the field, or during training, he emphasized the importance of calm, effective communication. Gill can’t lead the team with his batting alone, Chappell says; he needs to develop his communication skills to bring the players together, give them confidence, and gain their trust.