With one more Test failure to his name, Shubman Gill is bound to be slammed by many for his no-show. In the first innings of the India vs South Africa Test in Centurion, Gill was dismissed for two by Nandre Burger, in a rather unfortunate way, when a wayward delivery kissed his glove, on the way to the keeper. Though unlucky dismissal, Gill’s struggles in the longest format are old. He just finds ways to get dismissed, despite being one of the most talented, and touted as the ‘prince’.
He doesn’t justify his great first-class record as well. While he averages over 50 in 45 domestic matches, it reduces to only 31 in 18 Tests. This only questions his place in the Test squad. Already he was moved to number three, to make way for Yashasvi Jaiswal; but where will it all stop for Gill?
Consistently Poor in Tests
In the last three years, 2021, 2022, and 2023, he has averaged below 30 only — 29.87, 29.66, and 29. What is even more surprising is that he has no fifty in the last two years, despite scoring two tons. To further substantiate this points, barring the two tons, his last Test fifty came back in 2021 against New Zealand in Kanpur.
Shubman Gill hasn’t crossed the 30-run mark in the last six innings, putting the burden on the rest of the batting order.
India Needs Shubman to Fire in Tests
In Tests outside India, especially in SENA countries, is where Shubman’s services are needed the most. There too, he hasn’t been able to deliver much. In England, in three Tests, he has scored 88 runs at an average of 14. In South Africa, in his only Test till now, he was dismissed for two. Shubman is yet to play a Test in New Zealand, while only in Australia he has a good record, where in three Tests, he has scored 259 runs at an average of 51.
Editors pick
