Ex-Indian lead batter, Sunil Gavaskar observed Shubman Gill’s surplus push led to Test match troubles, particularly of late.
Despite his scorching ODI capabilities, he struggled to replicate this success in Test cricket post his 128-run marvel against Australia at Ahmedabad in March. Since then, his rate floated at a mere 17.33 over six innings, pulling his general Test score to a depressing 31.06 across 19 games.
Speaking to Star Sports following India’s innings-and-run defeat, Gavaskar highlighted Gill’s subpar Test performances while pointing out the distinction between the red and white balls.
“I think he is playing a bit too aggressively in Test cricket. There is a slight difference when you play Test cricket vs T20I and ODI cricket. The difference is in the ball. The red ball moves a little more than the white ball in the air and off the pitch as well. It bounces a little more too. He should keep that in mind.”
Sunil Gavaskar
In India’s first Test loss to South Africa in Centurion, Gill scored 2 and 28. He has slipped to No. 3 in the batting order with little success due to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ascent. Since the West Indies series, the youthful prodigy has played five innings at the position and has not once reached the age of thirty.
“Hope trains harder and does well in the future” – Sunil Gavaskar on Shubman Gill
In the forthcoming games, Sunil Gavaskar believed Shubman Gill will put in more effort and training to go back to his Test form.
During the 2020/21 India-Australia memorable 2-1 victory in his first Test series, the gifted batsman amassed 259 runs at an average of 51.80 in three games. It featured a stunning 91 in the side’s historic chase of 328 in the Brisbane series finale.
But in the next three years in the Indian whites, the opening batter has endured a terrible run with just brief moments of brilliance.
“Shubman Gill started off his career so well and we praised his shots. We can only hope that he gets back into his form. Hope he trains harder and does well in the future.”
Sunil Gavaskar
Shubman Gill ended the year as the highest run scorer in international cricket despite his dismal recent Test play, mostly because of his incredible run of form in ODIs. In the second and final Test in Cape Town, which begins on January 3, he will try to get back to his best as India looks to avoid losing a series.