IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill Had A Good IPL, But Playing Test As An Opener In England Will Be Very Difficult – Aakash Chopra
Published - 01 Jul 2022, 02:28 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:09 AM
The cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has said that the young opening batsman Shubman Gill will face a “huge challenge” when he opens the innings for India in the rescheduled Test match against England.
The 5th and last Test match of the series between India and England, which was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 scare in the Indian camp, will be played at the Edgbaston, Birmingham from Friday, July 1.
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Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who performed exceptionally well for India in the England Test series last year, have been ruled out of the rescheduled Test match. Rahul is out with an injury and Rohit has failed to recover from Covid-19 after being tested positive during the warm-up game against Leicestershire.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that playing as an opener for India in English conditions will be very difficult for Gill. He said:
“This is going to be a huge challenge for Shubman Gill. He did play in the World Test Championship final and scored a few runs. He also had a good IPL, but playing Test cricket as an opener in England is going to be very difficult.”
I think Pujara will get the nod and we will have Vihari at 3 and Iyer at 5 – Aakash Chopra
Chopra further opined that the veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who bats at No.3 for India in Test cricket, will open the innings with Gill. He also talked about the possibility of India playing Srikar Bharat and Mayank Agarwal as Gill’s opening partner. He elaborated:
“There will be moisture on the surface in the beginning and also a bit of movement. So you need technically sound and world-class openers. But that can’t be said this time as you have no idea who will open with Shubman Gill. I think Pujara will get the nod and we will have Vihari at 3 and Iyer at 5.
“KS Bharat did a good job in the practice match and also opened in the second innings. But will India play with two wicketkeepers? I am not sure. You have flown in Mayank Agarwal so late that now to play him directly you need to see how he is shaping up in the nets.”
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah will be leading India National Cricket Team in the rescheduled Test match against England in the absence of all-format captain Rohit Sharma.
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