All eyes were on Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer post their dismal performances in the previous test series and also the recently concluded test in Hyderabad where both the batters failed to grab their opportunities in absence of Virat Kohli. These dismal performances on the field with the stature of batters like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer who had an emphatic 2023 with the bat in white ball leg has given many experts doubts whether these players are ready for international red ball cricket.
In Indian cricket in year 2023 , if anybody rose from his status from being a mere talent in the Indian dressing room to be the new Poster boy of the cricket Indian cricket it only has to be the young dashing opener Shubman Gill. Touted as the next Indian superstar after sensational Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill was exceptional with the bat in 2022-23 season scoring a heap of runs in international cricket. Across 48 games for India in all three formats in 2023, the 24-year-old accumulated 2154 runs at an average of 46.82, including seven centuries and 10 fifties.
Also in the IPL season of 2023, Shubman Gill’ s performance was instrumental in Gujarat Titans(GT) reach to the finals. Gill amassed 890 runs in the IPL the second most number runs behind his idol Virat Kohli whose IPL record of 973 runs in a single season (2016) still remains intact.
Shubman’s Gill slump in form of 2024 after emphatic 2023
Gill’s elevation to captaincy for Gujarat Titans in 2024 could be a reward for his brilliant outing int the IPL last time out. He was the leading run-scorer in IPL 2023, scoring 890 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 157.80, including three tons and four half-centuries. However his inability to stay on crease while batting in the shortest format has raised questions about his capabilities as an opener in the format with the likes of Yashaswi Jaiswal slowly rising the ranks in the shorter format for India post 2023.
Gill also had a decent World Cup which was acceptable as he was recovering from dengue. However his slump in form when full to fitness remains the concern for India. In the recent Afghanistan opening T20I match at Mohali, his hometown after a decent start gifted away his wicket. This has raised concerns amongst may former cricketers regarding Shubman’s future
Post the emphatic form of run in all formats in 2023, India’s new poster boy who is touted to be the next big thing in Indian cricket, star batter Shubman Gill in 2024, came in terms with the crickets greatest reality , One day you are up and beaming next day cricket only makes you go down. This reality of the game of cricket is evident from great’s of the game from Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in conquest of his bright future has to undergo facing this phase of cricket.
Year 2024 in international cricket, is turning to be dreadful year for Shubman Gill who after return from Dengue in the ICC World Cup 2023 has somehow failed to show his batting prowess in all formats of the game. Also post his century in the Border Gavaskar Trophy at home in 2023, batting at No 3 in tests, Shubman Gill has not shown any signs of form which continued in the recently concluded test match versus the English team which India lost by 28 runs.
Amidst all the trolls and allegations whether Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer deserves a chance in the playing 11 after dismal performances over last few test matches
Gill has faced a slump since the ICC World Test Championship last year where he has scored a meagre of 207 runs in 12 innings at an average as low as 18.81. Shreyas Iyer the best batter of spin in Indian conditions has slumped even further. He has scored 158 runs in last seven tests and 11 innings. This slump continued even in the first innings of the second test match at Vizag when both the batters after a brisk start failed to convert it into big scores.
Shubman Gill’s 34 and Shreyas Iyer’s 27 runs in the first innings a worrying sign for India going forward.
With the place in the red ball squad at stake , On Day 1 when Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket supporting batters a lot was expected from Indian top order batters to trouble English bowlers to an extent having an advantage on Day 1 itself and a lot was expected from Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer who are playing in the playing 11 at expense of talented backups in the team with an expectation to perform .
When Rohit failed early, every one thought India’s innings would be a worry now but Shubman Gill trying to prove something alongside Yashaswi Jaiswal was positive from the word go who toyed with the spinners lengths by using his feet as well as sweeping occasionally.
But a well-set Gill fell to a well-laid trap by England, as 41 year old old fox James Anderson came in for a second spell before Lunch. Gill tried to mess with Anderson’s lengths by jumping out early but never looked in comfort, edging past the slip cordon dangerously. He eventually fell chasing a wide delivery and nicking to slip, and being dismissed by the bowler for the fifth time in seven innings.
Shubman Gill once again looking good to score big on the pitch assisting batters fell for 34 runs and will ruin himself for not making use of the good batting conditions. After Shubman Gill’s wicket entered Shreyas Iyer who restored India to safety by Lunch in company of rampaging Jaiswal but his innings was sluggish and never took off as he fell to hard fought 27 runs to a nothing shot to off spinner Tom Hartley leaving himself and fans in distraught .
Such dismal performances on the wicket that supported batters irked the likes of former opener now commentator Aakash Chopra who expressed his worries regarding the dismal performances.
Time is running out very fast for Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer- Aakash Chopra
Former Indian opener now star commentator Aakash Chopra reckons Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer’s place in India’s Test side might be in danger if they don’t play substantial knocks in the second innings of the ongoing second Test against England.
India posted 336/6 in their first innings at Stumps on Day 1 in Visakhapatnam on Friday, February 2. Gill and Iyer contributed 34 and 27 runs respectively, with Yashaswi Jaiswal starring with an unbeaten 179.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Gill and Iyer might get just one more chance to save their places in the Test XI. He said (7:30):
“Time is running out very fast for Gill and Iyer. They have one more knock and I really hope that they score runs because if their next knocks don’t go good, the problems will become grave for both of them,”
The former India opener observed that Gill struggled against James Anderson after getting off to a good start. He elaborated (3:15):
“Shubman Gill got a start. He played slightly aggressively at the start for sure but after that, he got three edges in James Anderson’s two overs. The third edge carried to the keeper as well and he got out. He wasted a good start. 34 runs is not going to be enough,”
Gill edged Anderson for boundaries off the last ball of the 27th over and the first delivery of the 29th over. He got another edge off the fifth ball of the 29th over and was caught by Ben Foakes behind the wickets.
Aakash Chopra on Shreyas Iyer’s dismal performances
Aakash Chopra wasn’t convinced with Shreyas Iyer’s footwork against James Anderson. He explained (3:35):
“Shreyas Iyer also gave a disappointing performance. The way he was moving around wasn’t giving much confidence. You generally don’t move around like that against a fast bowler in Test cricket,”
The cricketer-turned-commentator observed that the Mumbai batter looked ungainly even though he wasn’t facing express pace. He stated:
“He was moving a lot even though there wasn’t much pace in the short balls and eventually he got out. You can say the ball stayed a little low and that he was slightly unlucky, but he was not stable on the crease,”
Chopra noted that Rohit Sharma too didn’t live up to expectations on a placid surface. He concluded by saying that Rohit, Gill and Iyer’s performances left a lot to be desired. These dismal performances on the field with the stature of batters like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer who had an emphatic 2023 with the bat in white ball leg has given many a doubt whether these players are ready for international red ball cricket or not.