Shubman Gill Is Like VVS Laxman; Should Bat In The Middle-Order: Former Indian Selector

Former Indian selector Gagan Khoda has opened up on Shubman Gill’s batting position in the ICC World Test Championship final. The Indian batsmen have found themselves under the spotlight after an underwhelming show with the bat in the decider in Southampton, leading them to an eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand. Gagan Khoda opines that Shubman Gill should be batting in the middle-order moving forward.

Though Shubman Gill had an incredible start to his Test career, he has not been able to maintain that consistency. The youngster struggled against James Anderson in the home Test series against England and could not build upon his promising starts in the World Test Championship final in Southampton against New Zealand. Neil Wagner and Tim Southee troubled him with the ball going away and coming in respectively.

The ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton witnessed no Indian batsman making a 50 plus score. Ajinkya Rahane’s first innings 49 was the highest any Indian batter could manage. On the other hand, New Zealand had a couple of them as Devon Conway made 54 in the first innings, followed by Kane Williamson finishing with an unbeaten 52 in the second to take the Black Caps to victory.

Shubman Gill isn’t an opener: Gagan Khoda

Gagan Khoda believes Shubman Gill is like VVS Laxman and should bat in the middle-order instead of opening the innings. Khoda also reckons Mayank Agarwal should have batted at the top in Southampton and was shown the way out like Prithvi Shaw after a few failures. The 46-year old further stated that India could have picked an extra batsman or Shardul Thakur, who could bat and bowl.

“It was not meant to be like this. Shubman Gill isn’t an opener. He is like VVS Laxman, he should bat in the middle-order. India should have picked Mayank Agarwal, who had only two bad Test matches. Even Prithvi Shaw was shown the door after just one failure in Australia. India could have taken an extra batsman or a fast bowler who can bat. Someone like Shardul Thakur could have done the trick,” Khoda said as quoted by India Today.

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