Indian captain Shubman Gill has drawn considerable criticism for his leadership during the third and final One-Day International against New Zealand in Indore on January 18, 2026. India lost the match by 41 runs, leading to a 2-1 series defeat at home. Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Ian Smith was particularly vocal, expressing his disappointment with Gill's captaincy on live television. Smith observed that Gill appeared "out of ideas" and was not proactive, especially when New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips were building a formidable 219-run partnership after early wickets. Concerns were raised when Gill was seen fielding at long-off, a position that, according to Smith, removed him from the immediate action and decision-making crucial for a captain under pressure. Furthermore, wicketkeeper KL Rahul was frequently observed moving fielders and engaging in tactical discussions with bowlers from behind the stumps, leading to suggestions that he was stepping in to fill a leadership void. While acknowledging that Gill is a young captain learning the ropes, Smith highlighted the challenge of leading a team that includes seasoned veterans and former captains like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. This post-match scrutiny by prominent cricket commentators from credible sports news outlets like NDTV Sports, Hindustan Times, and CricTracker has placed Gill's nascent captaincy under the spotlight following a significant home series loss.