"They doubted Shubman Gill like they doubted Virat Kohli..." - Kevin Pietersen sends strict message to critics
Published - 26 Feb 2024, 05:27 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:27 AM
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who is the last from any generation in 2012 to register a red-ball series win in India under the captaincy of Sir Alastair Cook, had a message for all of those who doubted the class and ability of the number 3 batter of the Indian Test team – Shubman Gill, who delivered a match-winning half-century to help the Indians register their 17th straight series win on home soil.
Before the terrific turnaround that he started to produce from the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test in Vizag, Shubman Gill was experiencing a run drought ever since he took over the number 3 role from veteran Cheteshwar Pujara who was sidelined from Rahul Dravid’s plan after the cruel World Test Championship 2023 final loss in Oval.
Gill had himself wished to bat in that important and difficult position but the good thing about it was that it opened the door for Indian team management to have a look at Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opening pair with skipper Rohit Sharma. While it did wonders for Jaiswal whose career skyrocketed after it, Gill took the road downhill and experienced a very lean run of form.
Since taking up number 3 from the Test series in West Indies last July, Shubman Gill had scores of 6, 10, 29*, 2, 26, 36, 10, 23, 0, and 34 across innings in the Caribbean, South Africa, and India. However, something happened to him in Vishakhapatnam as he turned the tables in his favor and scored a brilliant welcome-back century that brought back rhythm and hope.
“Do not” – Kevin Pietersen sends a warning to never doubt Shubman Gill
Kevin Pietersen used the example of Virat Kohli when asking everyone to also not doubt Shubman Gill who according to the South African-born, falls in the same category as Kohli. “They doubted Shubman like they doubted Virat when he was struggling! DO NOT!!!!!!!!!!” Pietersen wrote on X.
They doubted Shubman like they doubted Virat when he was struggling!
DO NOT!!!!!!!!!!
In fact, KP was perhaps among those handful of people who came out in defense of the Punjab-born batter, offering support and asking everyone to be patient with him. It is often said, that class recognizes class and this has well been personified.
“I decided to take the LBW out of the equation”, Gill reveals gameplan during a successful 192-run chase in the 4th Test
While speaking to Deep Dasgupta on Jio Cinema after scoring a match-winning 52 off 124, Shubman Gill revealed the game plan he had in mind before coming out to bat earlier today. He claimed that he wasn’t relying on his footwork that much during 1st innings due to less spin but then he decided to take the LBW fear off from his mind and use more of his feet which eventually worked.
He also claimed that the 4th Test win by 5 wickets means a lot for the entire team as they were without some key players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul and lastly, Gill lauded Rohit Sharma for filling the team up with immense confidence.
“The first innings the ball was not turning much and hence I didn’t use my feet, but second innings I decided to take the LBW out of the equation by using my feet. It means the world to us, coming here and having to play the series with not much batting experience, having lost KL after the first Test.. but Rohit Bhai backed us and gave us the confidence to go out and play with freedom,” Gill said via Jio Cinema.
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England National Cricket Team IND vs ENG 2024 India National Cricket Team Kevin Pietersen Shubman Gill Virat Kohli
