"One imperative you need..." - Sanjay Manjrekar offers suggestion to 'under pressure' Shubman Gill
Published - 25 Jan 2024, 05:39 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:25 AM
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has stated that Shubman Gill needs to strengthen his defensive skills to become a successful batter in Test cricket. Sanjay Manjrekar stated that Shubman Gill is facing pressure not only in Test cricket but also in the T20 format.
Shubman Gill came under scrutiny following his below-par performances in the longer format of the game. The right-handed batter managed to score just 74 runs across four innings in the recent two-match Test series against South Africa, where India drew the series 1-1.
Shubman Gill Is Under Pressure – Sanjay Manjrekar
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar expressed concern about Shubman Gill’s struggles in Test and T20 cricket. Manjrekar emphasized the need for a strong defense, stating that relying solely on attacking might not work in the longer format.
“He is under pressure, not just in Test cricket but in T20 cricket as well. I think there is a crowd gathering around him, making his life a little difficult. In the 50-over format, I think he is set for the moment. In Test cricket, there is one imperative that you need, unless you are batting down at No. 6 or No. 7, but even then, you need it, especially with the kind of pitches India have had in the recent past at home, where you need to have a good defence,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
“If you can’t defend and if you are looking to attack your way out of trouble, that works in 50-over cricket and T20 cricket, but in Test cricket, you need to have a reasonably good defence, and that is what Shubman Gill should be focusing on,” Manjrekar added.
The 24-year-old made his Test debut against Australia in the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne in 2020. The batter has represented the national team in 21 Tests at an average of 30.59. He has managed to score two centuries and four half-centuries in his brief career.
Don’t Think That KS Bharat Is The Stronger Keeper – Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar expressed concerns about the wicketkeeping and batting skills of KS Bharat and suggested that KL Rahul should keep wickets against England. Manjrekar highlighted that Bharat didn’t leave a strong impression in international cricket.
“I really don’t think that KS Bharat is the stronger keeper. He came with a lot of promise, but we got to see him properly in that series against Australia, keeping wickets and batting as well. With all due respect, I wasn’t impressed with either of his skills. So, it would not have been a bad compromise (dropping Bharat for KL Rahul),” Manjrekar added.
KS Bharat earned his Test cap in the BGT series last year, but he faced challenges with the bat, managing only 101 runs in the four-match series. In his overall Test career, he has amassed 129 runs in 8 innings at a dismal average of 18.43, with the highest score of 44 runs.
However, the Andhra wicketkeeper-batter secured a place in India’s playing XI for the first Test of the five-match series against England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Also read: IND vs AFG: “If Jasprit Bumrah Cares About Test Cricket…” – Sanjay Manjrekar On Pacer’s Future