Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticized Shubman Gill for his poor shot selection during the first innings of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 against Australia. Sunil Gavaskar advised Shubman Gill not to go for a big booming drive well away from his body so early in his innings.
Shubman Gill has a bundle of talent. But it is one thing to have such ability and a very different thing to do justice to it. So far, he has not in his Test match career. Shubman Gill’s red-ball record is modest and unless he scores in tough situations, he can never be a great of Indian cricket. And by great, I mean the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli. That’s the yardstick of greatness and Shubman Gill, so far, has not even reached halfway.
Shubman Gill’s mode of dismissal in 3rd test vs Australia irks Sunil Gavaskar
India’s top order once again crumbled under pressure to give Australia an advantage in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba, Brisbane. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli played loose shots to give away their wickets on a platter. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has not taken too kindly to how Shubman Gill gave away his wicket by going for a fancy shot just minutes after coming to the crease.
Shubman Gill fell victim to Starc in the third over as India went two down for just six runs. Mitchell Starc bowled a good-length delivery pitching way outside the off stump. Shubman Gill went for an ambitious drive but failed to connect it properly. The ball got the outside edge of his bat before finding the clasps of Mitchell Marsh at the gully.
The right-handed batter was dismissed for just 1 run in the first innings at the Gabba in Brisbane on Monday, December 16. Shubman Gill went for an ambitious drive off Mitchell Starc but edged it. Mitchell Marsh, who was stationed at gully, took a spectacular catch to get rid of Shubman Gill, leaving Team India at 6/2.
Australia is in a commanding position in the third Test against India at the Gabba. Australia posted a formidable total of 445 in their first innings, with centuries from Steve Smith (101), Travis Head (152), and 70 from Alex Carey. In response, India struggled against Australia’s pace attack in the match.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant. KL Rahul was the only Indian batter to show some resistance. With rain expected over the next two days, India will rely on KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma to save the Test match.
Virat Kohli looked to have regained his form with a century in the second innings of the first Test in Perth. However, he has registered scores of 7, 11, and 3 in his next three innings at Adelaide and Brisbane.
Sunil Gavaskar didn’t mince words while analyzing Shubman Gill’s batting performance in the ongoing third Test of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane on Monday. The former India captain-turned-pundit asked the 25-year-old to ‘leave your image in the dressing room’ and fancy shots in ‘back pocket’.
Sunil Gavaskar minces no words, lambasts Shubman Gill for poor ‘shot selection’ in 3rd Test at Gabba
Sunil Gavaskar wasn’t impressed with Shubman Gill going for such a risky shot just minutes after coming to the crease. Gavaskar stated that players should leave their “image” in the dressing room and save aggressive shots for later in the innings when set.
“Keep all those shots in your back pocket. Take them out when you are 30-40-50 not out, then can you get those shots again,” he added.
Speaking further, Sunil Gavaskar said that Shubman Gill’s shot was a poor decision. Gavaskar pointed out that Gill could have left the ball, which would have gone to the wicketkeeper while praising Mitchell Marsh for his excellent catch.
“Not very good shot selection, you could say. It was a very good catch, so there was a little bit of bad luck as well over there. But he could have left that ball alone; it would have gone harmlessly to the wicketkeeper. Gill is now back in the dugout,” Gavaskar said.
Can Shubman Gill do better in the second innings The truth is that he certainly has a chance. There is a lot of rain predicted for days 4 and 5 and, in all probability, 70 or 80 overs is all that India will have to play out over the next two days combined.
A gritty effort and this match can be salvaged. A draw remains a very real possibility, and that’s what should spur India. You don’t just give it away like Shubman Gill did, for that’s where you end up letting yourself down. With the talent he has, he can do so much better. For only then will the talent be of any real value to Indian cricket.
The challenge now is simple – knuckle down. Show character. Stay strong and believe that the job can still be done. Be it Shubman Gill or anyone else. A draw here, and it will be all to play for In Melbourne. That’s what India have to do over the next two days.