Former India cricketer Ajit Agarkar has heaped praise on the Test debutant Shubman Gill for the way he has taken things and shown confidence while tackling Australia’s frightening bowling attack on Day 1 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne.
Gill, who came in as a replacement for the out-of-form Prithvi Shaw, and Mayank Agarwal opened the innings for India after the tourists bundled Australia out for 195, thanks to brilliant efforts from Jasprit Bumrah (4 wickets) and R Ashwin (3 wickets) on Saturday (December 26) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
While Agarwal went down for a duck off Mitchell Starc’s sharp delivery, the 21-year-old right-hander showed his talent, batting at 28 off 38 balls hitting four boundaries after getting a golden life-line on four when Marnus Labuschagne dropped a regulation catch in the third slip off the bowling of Pat Cummins.
Then, Gill played a straight drive off Cummins and his confidence only grew as the youngster has played some delightful strokes along with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara as Team India finished Day 1 at the score of 36 for 1 in 11 overs.
Impressed by Gill’s attitude and intent, Agarkar said the youngster should have got the opportunity a couple of years back. He has played in 23 first-class matches so far and amassed 2,270 runs with the help of 7 hundred and 11 fifties at a staggering average of 68.78.
Agarkar told Sony Sports on Saturday, “He should have got an opportunity couple of years back. He just looks ready. You can see obviously he has got the potential.”
He also pointed out that Gill looked confident in his short stay at the crease before stumps despite getting dropped at 4 and hopes he will make the opportunity count on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test.
The former cricketer signed off by saying, “Couldn't have been easy this little period but just grew in confidence with every ball that he played. Yes, got an opportunity, he has got that little bit of luck which you need at times. Hopefully, he can go on and make that count.”
