'If he was from Tamil Nadu...': Politics behind Shubman Gill's backing in Indian team exposed

Shubman Gill, one of India's most promising young batters, has been facing heavy criticism after a dismal performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. Gill could score only 93 runs in five innings in Australia, which left fans and cricket experts deeply disappointed.

Now, former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath made a bold and controversial statement on Shubman Gill, claiming that the Punjab lad would have been dropped from the Indian cricket team if he hailed from Tamil Nadu after such a series of poor performances in Test cricket.

Subramaniam Badrinath slams Shubman Gill for lack of intent and aggression in BGT 2024-25

Subramaniam Badrinath has not only criticized the right-hander for his poor numbers but also his inability to adapt to challenging conditions and contribute to the team in ways beyond scoring runs in the recent five-match Test series against Australia, which won the BGT 2024-25 by a 3-1 margin.

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He pointed out that Shubman Gill, with an average of just over 35 after 32 Tests, failed to show the grit and determination needed at the highest level. He mentioned Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney, who, despite their struggles, managed to frustrate India’s pace attack by occupying the crease and tiring out bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.

Slamming Gill’s approach, Subramaniam Badrinath argued that the Indian batter lacked intent and aggression, failing to grind out long innings to help the Indian cricket team. While Labuschagne and McSweeney played crucial defensive knocks that helped their team stay competitive, Badrinath said that he was not really impressed by Gill’s performance at all.

If Shubman Gill was from Tamil Nadu, he would have been dropped: Subramaniam Badrinath

The commentator also emphasized that a batter’s contribution is in supporting teammates, exhausting bowlers, and holding the innings together, not just scoring runs, and Gill failed in every aspect on the recent Australia tour.

Badrinath said on Star Sports Tamil: “If this was Shubman Gill from Tamil Nadu, he would have been dropped. It is very difficult for me to see this. For that level, he has not lived up to expectations. You can get runs; you cannot, but there should have been intent and aggression. I wanted him to tire out the bowlers. I want you to make the ball old.

Help your teammates and stand firm even if runs are not coming. Play 100 balls, tire the bowlers. This is what your team contribution [is supposed to be]. Labuschagne and McSweeney did that in a couple of games. By playing out a lot of dot balls, they had actually made Bumrah injured.”

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He couldn't stay in slip and point: Badrinath questions Gill's place in Team India

Adding fuel to the fire, Gill’s performance in the field also came under scrutiny. The former Indian cricketer also slammed Gill’s fielding, saying he can’t even be put in the slips while questioning his overall value to the team. He noted that Gill not only failed to deliver as a batter but also faltered in his fielding responsibilities in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Badrinath signed off by saying, “You must not go there and say, ‘Oh, this is the way I play. I will stand and deliver. Four people will write about it. Whatever you can do, at that time, you try and do. In this series, I did not get it from Shubman. Even on the field, he was poor. He couldn't stay in slip and point. What does he contribute to the team?”