Indian opener Shubman Gill has had a good start to his Test career with quality innings against Australia in India’s 2-1 series win down under. He made 50 in his second Test in Sydney and scored 91 in India’s chase of 389 runs in Brisbane.
However, since then, he has had a lukewarm outing against England in the ongoing four-match series. He has had scores of 50,29, 0, 14, 11, and 15* in the matches before the ongoing Test, in the series that India leads 2-1.
Though he has shown terrific batting skills to negotiate both pace and spin, he has been found wanting with his footwork, especially in his latest dismissal in the fourth Test against England in Ahmedabad.
IND v ENG 2021: Yuvraj Singh gives Shubman Gill a friendly warning for his dismissal on short ball
After India bowled out England for 205, James Anderson needed three balls in all to remove Gill. He bowled two outswingers to Gill, which he negotiated easily, but then brought on into the batsman, where Gill was caught on the crease. Umpire Nitin Menon gave Gill out LBW and though the batsman opted for a DRS review, the result was the same.
India lost their first wicket on 0 runs, not the ideal start the home team wanted.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen seemed concerned for Shubman Gill’s technique as an opener, focusing on his lack of footwork, and tweeted about the same.
“Gill needs to get busier at the crease. Everything just looks way to slow!,” he posted.
To this Australia’s 1987 and 1999 World Cup-winning all-rounder Tom Moody replied saying that though Gill is an exceptional talent, he would be more suited to bat at no.4 or 5 in his opinion.
“Quality young talent @KP24 but I believe we’ll see him long term at 4/5. #INDvENG #Gill,” Moody tweeted.
Pietersen said that Gill needed to move more in the crease, as everything seemed slow for him. “I’m his biggest fan mate. But, he’s way to slow at the crease. He’ll really struggle away from home if he doesn’t speed up,” Pietersen replied.
