Shubman Gill Is Now The Frontrunner For The Opening Slot
Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
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By Slogger
First publised on 2020-12-12 08:08:35
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Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
View all posts by this Author
Who will open the innings with Mayank Agarwal in the Tests versus Australia with the first Test starting on December 17th? This question has been occupying the minds of fans and obviously the team and the tour management is also seriously seized of the matter. Prithvi Shaw was the first choice but his performance of late has been below standard. He has become rusty and in the tour practice game versus Australia A has shown that he is out of depth with the bounce and movement generated by the Australian bowlers. That has created a problem for the team management.
Is Shubman Gill, the other contender, ready to rise to the occasion? His performance in the same tour game indicates so. Gill displayed good technique and better temperament to stay at the crease and scored 43 and 65 in the two innings of the second practice match (both players had filed in the first). More than the runs, it was his composure at the crease that was praised. Ex- cricketer and coach Wasim Jaffer was effusive in his praise when he said that Gill was keeping "a straight bat, high elbow, head still, getting on top of the bounce" and was "ticking the technical boxes and in some style too". This is high praise from someone who knows the tricks. Gill looked a different player in the second practice game and it must have done a load of good to his confidence.
The team management must have taken a note of this and it is likely that Gill will now open the innings with Agarwal, at least in the first Test. Although reports have come in suggesting that Rohit Sharma has passed the fitness Test and might join the team in Australia, he will only be able to play from the 3rd Test as he will be in quarantine for 14 days as per rules in Australia. Further, if Gill seizes the opportunity and performs well and if Agarwal is also his usual solid self, Sharma's presence must not make a difference. The team management must persist with a pair that performs well and gives the results. If Agarwal and Gill give India good starts in the first two Tests, they must be retained. Tinkering with the opening slot will not be good for the team.
