IND vs WI: "Would Love To See A Change At The Top Where We Go 60 Or 70 For No Loss" - Abhinav Mukund

Published - 12 Aug 2023, 03:06 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:16 AM

Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill (Image Credits: Twitter)

Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund suggested that the Men in Blue openers adopt an aggressive approach in the fourth T20I against the West Indies. Abhinav Mukund said that the Indian openers should score more than 60 runs inside the powerplay in the must-win encounter.

Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill opened the innings in the two T20I games, but they failed to provide a strong start at the top of the order. The team management dropped Ishan for the third match, but the change didn’t yield the desired result as Yashasvi Jaiswal scored just one run.

Would Expect That These Two Openers Will Fire – Abhinav Mukund

In a conversation with Jio Cinema, Abhinav Mukund highlighted that Florida is a high-scoring venue, which can aid the openers in scoring freely during the fourth T20I.

“With the last two games being played in Florida, it’s historically been a high-scoring venue and it should also give a lot more confidence to someone like a Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. I think the opening pair has not fired throughout this T20I series. I would love to see a change at the top where we go 60 or 70 for no loss.”

“I think that’s where I would like to see a change. Attacking middle-order batters have been good in this particular series. Suryakumar Yadav has come onto his own. You have got Tilak Varma in the runs but the start is where India have been lacking and in Florida, with a better wicket, you would expect that these two openers will fire.”

The Hardik Pandya-led team will lock horns with the Men in Maroon in the penultimate match of the series at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida on Saturday, August 12.

He Is Getting Into Too Much Of A Shell – Abhinav Mukund

The former Indian opener explained the reason behind Shubman Gill‘s failures with the bat in the ongoing T20I series.

“India should be a bit concerned about Shubman Gill’s form this series but that being said, he is a quality player and I am sure he will figure it out. I feel he is getting into too much of a shell and then playing an attacking shot and getting dismissed.”

“Unfortunately for Shubman Gill, he hasn’t had a score but there is not too much to worry about it as far as I am concerned because we have seen in the IPL how he is able to progress and score big hundreds and be the anchor that India needs at the top of the order. I am sure Shubman Gill will fire.”

Shubman Gill has scored 3 runs, 7 runs, and 6 runs in the three matches he has played in the series so far. The right-handed batter has accumulated a total of 16 runs, averaging a disappointing 5.33 with a strike rate of 55.17.

Stay Updated with the Latest Cricket News from Cricket Addictor.

You will receive the latest updates on cricket news throughout the day. You can manage them whenever you need in browser settings.