Shubman Gill Can Be India's Future Number Four Batsman - Dav Whatmore

Who will be India’s number four batsman? It is a question that hasn’t received a solution in the last three years. Many options are tried and tested but none has been trusted to give a longer role. The 2019 World Cup is over and India’s number four trouble was palpable in the ODI showpiece. Going forward, former Pakistan and Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore believes Shubman Gill can be India’s future number four batsman as he has got the right technique.

The young prodigy batsman has shown the right promise to be the future of Indian cricket. Gill was awarded the Player of the tournament in the Under-19 World Cup in 2018 in New Zealand. Subsequently, the right-hander also impressed in the 2019 Indian Premier League as he scored 296 runs in 13 matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Gill is the future of Indian cricket.

Furthermore, Gill had an impressive debut in the domestic circuit. The flamboyant right-hander has thus far scored 1089 runs in his rookie career of nine First-Class matches at an impressive average of 77.78. Moreover, Gill averages 46.82 in 46 List A matches as he has amassed 1873 runs.

“India was hit by a couple of injuries and that was unfortunate. The No. 4 position kept sticking its head up – asking for a better solution. I feel Rishabh Pant, perhaps, could have done the job had he come (to the side) earlier. Going forward, India could look at players such as Shubman Gill for that spot. He is young, has a sound technique and has all the shots in the book,” Whatmore said as quoted by Times of India.

It is time for the Indian time to give a longer run to the young players to groom them for the next World Cup. The young blood should now be included in the side for the next challenges.

Shubman Gill has shown that he has the temperament and he could be the next big thing in Indian cricket. However, Gill didn’t have the best of starts to his International career as he could score only 16 runs in the two matches he played against New Zealand. Gill is expected to be in India’s squad for the tour of West Indies. The right-hander also scored 77 runs from 81 balls against West Indies A in the third unofficial ODI.

India will play three ODIs, three T20Is and two Test matches on the Carribean tour. The tour will kickstart with the first T20I to be played on 3rd August.