In a dramatic turn of events on Day 1 of the first Test between England and India at Headingley, cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar publicly reversed his earlier stance on Shubman Gill’s appointment as Test captain. Gill, leading India for the first time in Tests, silenced critics—including Manjrekar himself—by scoring a commanding unbeaten 127, steering India to a dominant position against England.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s initial take on India’s new Test captain
Manjrekar, known for his candid opinions, had been vocal about his preference for Jasprit Bumrah as India’s Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. “Let me go right back to when he was made captain—I was against it, to be honest. I felt Jasprit Bumrah would have been the better and more logical choice, without thinking too far ahead into the future. I did not think it was the right decision at the time,” Manjrekar admitted on Match Centre Live after stumps.
Bumrah, however, had declined the captaincy, citing ongoing recovery from a serious back injury that limited his ability to play five consecutive Tests. This opened the door for the 25-year-old Gill, whose Test record overseas had previously raised concerns among pundits and fans alike.
Shubman Gill’s record ton on Test captaincy debut
Walking in after a solid start by openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, Gill quickly found his rhythm against an England attack featuring Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes. He forged a crucial 129-run partnership with Jaiswal, who himself reached a century, before taking India to 359/3 at stumps alongside a resurgent Rishabh Pant.
Manjrekar, reflecting on Gill’s performance, highlighted the young captain’s technical improvements: “The only concern was that he was still evolving, especially when it came to overseas conditions. But today, he addressed key technical areas that had previously stopped him from getting a big overseas hundred. Yes, the pitch was good and the bowling wasn’t too challenging, but once those technical flaws were ironed out, everything else—especially his temperament—stood out as a strength.”
Gill’s unbeaten 127 off 175 balls made him only the fifth Indian to score a century on Test captaincy debut, joining the elite company of Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Virat Kohli. His innings not only put India in a commanding position but also marked his first overseas century—a significant milestone in his career.
Also READ: Fans go crazy as Shubman Gill slams hundred on captaincy debut for India in the Leeds Test against England
Manjrekar’s u-turn and team positives
After the end of opening day’s play, Manjrekar was effusive in Gill’s praise.
“Shubman Gill has scored his first overseas hundred of real significance. These are massive positives. India has nothing to lose, only gains to make from this series,” he said. The Mumbaikar acknowledged that Gill’s composure and technical growth had answered lingering doubts about his suitability for leadership, especially in challenging conditions.
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