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, Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has supported them through this lean patch and expect them to come good.
Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour supports star batter Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer amid their lean run in Tests for India sans dismal performance in 1st Test.
Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour has urged for patience with young batters Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Yashaswi Jaiswal. Referring to the fact that they have not played a lot of Test cricket, he’s confident that the trio will come good with experience.
After enduring a tough time during the two-match series in South Africa, Jaiswal smashed a fluent 80 in the first innings of the Hyderabad Test against England. Gill and Shreyas, though, continued to struggle, registering low scores in both innings.
At a press conference ahead of the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, which begins on Friday, February 2, Rathour threw his weight behind India’s young batters.
“There are young batters in our team who have not played much Test cricket. So, we need to be a bit patient with them. Batters like (Shubman) Gill, (Yashaswi) Jaiswal and (Shreyas) Iyer will eventually start getting big runs, I’m sure of it,” the former India opener said.
On what style of play he would like the Indian batters to adapt, Rathour explained that they need to play with intent but must also take into consideration factors like the pitch and the conditions on offer.
“There’s a difference between playing with intent and playing attacking cricket. I want them to play with intent. If there is the opportunity to score some runs, they should take it.
“They need to decide by looking at the surface and conditions. So, the batters need to possess that intelligence as to which is the best or safest shot on the surface,” he elaborated.
The former player also admitted that India could have been a bit more disciplined with the bat in the second innings in Hyderabad.
“Could they have batted with more discipline? Maybe they could have. That’s what they need to decide and come up with their plans. But, they need to score runs by playing their shots, as you need to back your strengths. Batting is always about scoring runs. It’s not about not getting out but how many runs you put on the board,” Rathour commented
Chasing 231, India were bowled out for 202, with debutant left-arm spinner Tom Hartley taking 7-62 and Indian batters in their own backyard failing to perform well in their own backyard.
With Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer having faith of management in them despite lean form in tests, it would be high pressure on them to perform as the youngsters in Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar are in waiting wings for inclusions in the Indian test playing 11 and more failures would only see the likes of Gill and Iyer go out from the Indian national squad especially in red ball cricket.