"Shubman Gill needs to do something.."- Former Indian cricketer tears apart young Indian batsman

Shubman Gill had a terrific year in 2023 but ever since he has been demoted to No.3 in Test cricket, he has been going through a rough patch of form. The 24-year-old batter has not scored a single half-century in his last 11 innings and has been under the radar of the critics for the way he played against England in the series-opener at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

The right-handed batter was desperate to perform in Vishakhapatnam in the second Test match of the series as it is expected that Virat Kohli will be returning to the team for the third Test. Shubman Gill could be one of the players to be axed from the batting line-up once Kohli returns to the Indian team. Gill has been facing a lean patch in his form since the ODI World Cup 2023 where he failed to score a single century in nine innings.

Multiple former cricketers and experts have criticised Shubman Gill’s dismissal during the first Test. In the first innings of the first Test, Shubman went into a shell and got out while trying to play a release shot. In the second innings, the batter scored a 2-ball duck and got out to debutant spinner Tom Hartley who went on to take seven wickets in the match and win it for England.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, while speaking on ESPNcricinfo has pointed out the issues with Shubman Gill’s technique and said that the batter needs to better his defence if he consistently wants to score runs in Test cricket. A better defence is a necessity in any format of the game as it helps you to tackle the unplayable deliveries.

Sanjay Manjrekar Advises Shubman Gill To Do Something About His Defence

“Shubman Gill, how does he react to his failures? He needs to do something about his defence if he wants to be the prolific run-getter in the team at the Test level, both against swing and spin. That’s a cause for worry and that’s something that won’t be solved easily. These are uncontrollable for the team management, and the selectors,”  Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.

Shubman Gill again failed to convert a good start and departed for 34 after playing 46 deliveries as James Anderson again got his wicket. This was the fifth time when James Anderson got the wicket of Shubman Gill in Test cricket. It was a perfect out-swinging delivery getting the outside edge off Gill’s bat and Ben Foakes completed a stunning catch to dismiss the 24-year-old batter.

India and England are facing each other in the second Test of the five-match series at Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam. India has already lost the first Test by 28 runs and England are leading the series 1-0. The hosts have not lost a Test series at home since 2012 when the Alastair Cook-led England defeated India 2-1. Since then, India has won 16 consecutive Test series at home and is looking to continue their streak by winning the 17th consecutive series which is being played against England.