Shubman Gill Under Fire After England ODI Series Loss: ‘He Has a Lot to Improve in Captaincy,’ Hanuma Vihari Says… Kuldeep Yadav Snub Also Questioned

India’s road to the next ODI World Cup has suddenly become a little more complicated.

After losing their recent ODI series against England 2-1, India’s preparations for the marquee tournament have come under fresh scrutiny. The result was particularly concerning because it followed a similar 2-1 series defeat against New Zealand, leaving the Indian team with two bilateral ODI series losses in their last three attempts.

At the centre of the debate is India’s new ODI captain Shubman Gill, whose leadership is facing increasing questions as the team continues to search for the right combination.

Former India batter Hanuma Vihari has now joined the growing chorus of criticism, arguing that Gill still has plenty to learn when it comes to handling pressure situations as captain.

Vihari specifically pointed to Gill’s bowling changes and field placements during India’s recent series loss to England, suggesting that the young captain struggled because the team did not have a sixth bowling option available.

Hanuma Vihari Says Shubman Gill ‘Has a Lot to Improve’ as Captain

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hanuma Vihari questioned how Gill handled India’s bowling resources during the England series.

“Having just five bowlers in the last ODI, he (Gill) was struggling with his bowling changes. When everyone was getting hit, not having a sixth option became a concern for him,” Vihari said.

Read More- ‘Don’t Fear Failure…’: Shreyas Iyer’s Powerful Dressing Room Message Before Zimbabwe T20Is Reveals India’s New Mindset

According to the former India batter, a captain must be prepared to deal with situations where the preferred strategy does not work.

“You should also know how to handle things when this option is not there. Whether it is field placement or bowling changes, I feel he has to improve,” he said.

Vihari acknowledged Gill’s quality as a batter but argued that his captaincy needs further development.

“His batting is outstanding, but he has to get better as captain because the results are not coming,” he added.

The criticism comes at a challenging stage of Gill’s leadership journey. The 26-year-old took over India’s ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma, despite the experienced opener having led India to the Champions Trophy title.

With the next ODI World Cup approaching, the Indian team cannot afford too many more experiments that fail to produce results.

India’s ODI Record Under Gill Raises Questions

Gill’s captaincy record has been a mixed bag across formats.

His first major assignment as Test captain produced a respectable 2-2 draw in a five-match series in England. India then defeated the West Indies 2-0 at home in a two-Test series.

However, the results in ODIs have been less encouraging.

India suffered 2-1 ODI series defeats against Australia, New Zealand and England. The team also endured a 2-0 home Test series defeat against South Africa, although Gill captained only the opening Test before missing the remainder of the series.

There have also been brighter moments. India’s home series against Afghanistan produced a one-off Test victory followed by a 3-0 ODI sweep.

Still, the inconsistent results have raised concerns over whether India are moving in the right direction as they build a squad for the next World Cup.

The biggest challenge for Gill and the team management is finding consistency before the tournament pressure becomes even greater.

Kuldeep Yadav’s Exclusion Leaves Hanuma Vihari ‘Baffled’

Gill’s captaincy was not the only issue raised by Vihari.

The former India batter also questioned the decision to leave experienced wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav out of India’s playing XI, particularly during the ODI at Lord’s.

For Vihari, the decision was difficult to understand given the nature of the pitch and India’s World Cup ambitions.

“Why was Kuldeep left out? It is something that I cannot understand,” Vihari said.

He argued that while teams can afford to give younger players opportunities in T20 cricket, major ODI tournaments require a combination of youth and proven match-winners.

“Going with youth in T20s is still fine, but here you have to go with experience,” he said.

Vihari believes India have plenty of talented young cricketers, but the number of players with proven match-winning experience is considerably smaller.

“If you have winning the World Cup in mind, you will pick experienced players and those who know how to win games,” he added.

‘It Was a Shocker’: Vihari Questions Kuldeep’s Absence at Lord’s

Vihari was particularly critical of Kuldeep’s omission from the Lord’s ODI, describing the decision as a “shocker”.

“Lord’s is a slow wicket. On that wicket, you played four fast bowlers and did not play Kuldeep. It was a shocker,” he said.

The criticism highlights a larger question facing India’s selectors and team management: how much should the team prioritise experimentation, and when should it rely on proven performers?

Kuldeep has been one of India’s most effective limited-overs spinners in recent years, making his exclusion a subject of debate among fans and former players.

Vihari also questioned how India can properly assess Kuldeep’s World Cup credentials if he is not given opportunities in important bilateral series.

“If you take him in the team but don’t give him a chance in a series like this, how will you pick him for the World Cup?” he asked.

India Have Time — But the Pressure Is Building

The next ODI World Cup may still be some distance away, but India’s recent results have highlighted the importance of getting the team’s combination right well before the tournament begins.

For Shubman Gill, the challenge is now twofold.

He must continue producing runs with the bat while also proving that he can make the tactical decisions expected from an international captain. The criticism from Vihari is unlikely to be the last, particularly if India’s ODI results continue to disappoint.

India have the talent, experience and depth to compete at the highest level. The real question is whether the team management can identify the right combination and give those players enough opportunities to build confidence together.

The road to the World Cup is rarely smooth. But with every lost series, the pressure on the captain, selectors and coaching staff grows a little more.

For Gill, the message from Vihari is straightforward: the batting may already be world-class, but the captaincy still has room to grow…