‘Go Back to School’: Shubman Gill’s Captaincy Slammed After India’s ODI Series Loss to New Zealand

India’s 2–1 ODI series defeat to New Zealand has sparked intense debate around Shubman Gill’s leadership, with critics questioning his tactical decisions and on-field proactiveness as captain.

The loss has been particularly jarring given that New Zealand fielded a largely inexperienced side, missing several established names. Despite that, the visitors overturned a 1–0 deficit to clinch the series with commanding wins in Rajkot and Indore, ending India’s long-standing dominance at home.

Gill, who has now lost his first two ODI series as captain — against Australia and New Zealand — found himself under scrutiny after India failed to capitalise on strong positions in both defeats.

Harsh criticism over tactics

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali delivered a scathing assessment of Gill’s captaincy, accusing him of lacking situational awareness and making questionable bowling changes.

Basit questioned why frontline spinners were underutilised at critical moments, arguing that India missed early breakthroughs despite having specialist options at their disposal. He went as far as suggesting that Gill appeared to be imitating Shan Masood rather than trusting his own instincts.

“Go back to school and learn captaincy,” Basit remarked, calling for Gill to reassess his approach at the international level.

Match that turned the series

In the series decider at Indore, India had New Zealand reeling at 5 for 2 before a massive 219-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips swung momentum decisively. Despite late wickets from India’s pacers, the visitors posted 338 — a total that proved out of reach.

India’s chase faltered early, with the top order failing to build partnerships. Virat Kohli stood out with a fighting century, but once he was dismissed, the contest effectively ended.

Leadership question grows louder

While Gill showed promise with the bat earlier in the series, critics argue that captaincy demands more than individual performances. The defeat has intensified conversations around India’s leadership transition and whether Gill is ready to shoulder long-term responsibility in the ODI format.

With tougher challenges ahead, the spotlight on Gill’s decision-making is only expected to grow.