IND vs NZ 2026: India great compares Shubman Gill's captaincy skills to MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma

India’s 1-2 ODI series defeat against New Zealand has triggered discussion around the tactical decision-making of captain Shubman Gill, particularly during high-pressure phases of the matches. While Gill’s batting credentials remain unquestioned, his leadership in crunch situations has come under scrutiny following a brief analysis by veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the aftermath of the series loss.

Ashwin highlighted what he described as a lack of clarity in resource management during the middle overs, identifying it as a key factor behind India’s defeats in the second and third ODIs. He compared Gill’s approach with the tactical acumen shown by former captains MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who, according to Ashwin, consistently excelled in using their bowling resources effectively.

“Why do we praise Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni so much as captains? Because they know where to use the resources and when to bring the resources, and against which batsman. That was a little missing [in this series]. You shouldn't lose confidence in a bowler on the basis of the previous game,” Ashwin said in a video on his Youtube channel.

The veteran questioned Gill’s deployment of Kuldeep Yadav, particularly during the third ODI against New Zealand’s middle order, which featured Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. He suggested that Gill appeared hesitant to trust his bowlers at critical moments, possibly influenced by outcomes from previous matches.

The former India cricketer was particularly critical of Gill’s handling of Kuldeep, arguing that the captain failed to exploit visible technical weaknesses in the New Zealand middle order. He believed Kuldeep should have been used more aggressively to break key partnerships. The Chennai-born further believes that Gill lacked having a Plan B.

“I would have loved to see two-over spells. If the same Glenn Phillips had to encounter Kuldeep Yadav through the middle overs in two-over spells... give one run to Daryl Mitchell, try and bowl round the stumps. If you use the resources properly and if there is a failure, then it's done. The point is, you bowl your best bowlers at the right time,” he concluded.

As India look ahead to future assignments, attention will remain on Gill’s evolution as a leader and his ability to balance personal performance with captaincy demands. It also remains to be seen whether head coach Gautam Gambhir factors Ashwin’s observations into the team’s tactical planning going forward.