The stage was set for Shubman Gill to shine at No 3 with selectors looking beyond Cheteshwar Pujara. But Shubman failed to convert his white-ball form in Test cricket. In the IND vs SA 1st Test, Shubman Gill lasted 12 deliveries falling to debutant Andre Burger.
Shubman Gill would have hated the way he was dismissed. It was a back of the length delivery by Nandre Burger down the leg side and Shubman followed the ball and gloved it. South Africa waited long to take a review but it turned out to be a smart one as the review showed that the ball did kiss the gloves before Kyle Verreynne took the catch.
The fact that, Shubman Gill has only been a hit in sub-continent conditions in Tests will be a concern for India Cricket Team going forward.
In 18 innings in India and Bangladesh, Shubman Gill has only managed to average 33.76. And the average drops below 30 outside sub-continent conditions. He has only two half-centuries in 16 innings, both in Australia.
Shubman Gill on borrowed life?
With Ruturaj Gaikwad knocking the door of the Test team and even has been in the squad, Gill needs to step up with the IND vs ENG Test series coming up. Else, he might be out of the Test line-up sooner than expected in favour of Ruturaj Gaikwad at No 3.
The remaining three Test innings will be his only chance before the England series.
Shubman Gill in 2023
Format | Inn | Runs | Avg | 50/100 |
Test | 9 | 128 | 29 | 0/1 |
ODI | 29 | 1584 | 63.36 | 9/5 |
T20I | 13 | 312 | 26 | 1/1 |