.jpeg?ssl=1 "‘He was tested, went too defensive too early’ – Pujara questions Shubman Gill’s captaincy on Day 4 of Colombo Test")
The second Test between Sri Lanka and India at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo entered Day 4 on Wednesday, August 26. India enforced the follow‑on after bowling out Sri Lanka in their first innings, but rain brought an early end to play with the hosts standing at 229 for six, still trailing by 16 runs.
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara gave his assessment of captain Shubman Gill’s on‑field decisions during the crucial session between lunch and tea. He noted that Gill “went defensive too early” and suggested the young skipper needs to learn from the experience. Pujara emphasised the need for more aggression, urging the captain to encourage his bowlers to keep picking up wickets rather than becoming overly cautious.
“If you look at the session between lunch and tea, Shubman was tested as a captain. He went defensive too early. That is where he will have to learn going forward.” Pujara said during a discussion on Sony Sports.
“India were a little shocked with Sri Lanka’s counter-attack. This is where you need to show a little more courage. Encourage your bowlers to still pick up wickets rather than go too defensive,” he added.
Why Pujara felt Gill went defensive too early
Pujara’s criticism centred on Gill’s tactical choices when Sri Lanka mounted a strong batting response. He believed the captain should have maintained a more attacking bowling approach instead of shifting early to a defensive mindset, which could prove costly against quality opposition in future Test matches. Despite the setback, Pujara expressed confidence that Gill will learn from the experience and refine his captaincy in high‑pressure situations.
How weather influenced India’s follow-on decision
Pujara also commented on India’s decision to enforce the follow‑on, highlighting the impact of weather conditions. He explained that India’s ground staff would have evaluated the rain threat before making the call. According to Pujara, the presence of rain was the primary reason for the follow‑on; had there been no rain, India might have preferred to continue batting. However, given the wickets already taken, the decision now appears justified.
“I am sure they must have spoken to the ground staff. There was some rain around. The main reason of them enforcing the follow‑on was the rain. If there wasn’t any rain around, I think India would have preferred to bat. But, because they picked up those wickets, the decision does not seem wrong as of now,” he added.