Shubman Gill Has A Glitch In Technique Points Out Ian Bishop

Shubman Gill, young Indian opener had a successful debut Test series versus Australia, where he was 4th highest run-scorer for India as he returned with 259 runs including two half-centuries averaging 51.8 in 3 Tests.

Shubman Gill has been regarded as the next-big-thing in Indian cricket. His debut was keenly awaited in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he got a chance in the last three Tests and grabbed the opportunities with both hands.

Shubman Gill’s Ability To Play Back And Forward Appropriately Is Hallmark Of New Generation Of Batsmen : Ian Bishop

As a result, Shubman Gill ended the series as the fourth-highest run-getter for India, sixth overall, with a total of 259 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 51.80 with a best of 91 in the series-deciding fourth and final Test in Brisbane. The right-hander’s ability to play varied strokes on all parts of the ground and handle the extra pace and bounce of the Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc won applause from all corners.

Former West Indies cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Bishop also closely followed the India-Australia Test series, which Ajinkya Rahane & Co. won 2-1 to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the third consecutive time and earn their second successive Test series win against Aussies in their own backyard.

While Ian Bishop was all praise for Shubman Gill in the manner in which he rose to the occasion and took up the opener’s slot, he also pointed out a flaw in his batting technique.

Speaking in an interview on Sportstar, Bishop said, “In Australia, on those slightly bouncier pitches, Gill’s ability to play back and forward appropriately, to take on the short ball with aplomb, as a subcontinental player is the hallmark of the new generation of batsmen,” he stated.

He further opined, “This hasn’t always been that way, as we know. His eye-catching, tall, elegant, languid stroke play was easy on the eye. His willingness to respect a certain slow or fast phase of the game showed a good cricketing mind and willingness to be flexible. It wasn’t a case of ‘this is the one way I play and I’ll only play that way’. More than anything, he kept improving and not backing down.”

Shubman Gill (21y 133d) became the youngest Indian opening batsman to score 50+ runs in fourth innings after scoring his 2nd fifty at Gabba, Brisbane. The youngster failed to get to his maiden Test century as he was dismissed for 91 by Nathan Lyon. He faced 146 deliveries in his knock of 91 runs.

Shubman Gill Has A Glitch In Technique As He Plays Often From Leg Stump: Ian Bishop

Virender Sehwag holds multiple records including the highest score made by an Indian in Test cricket (319 against South Africa at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai), which was also the fastest triple century in the history of international cricket. He also holds the distinction of being one of four batsmen in the world to have ever surpassed 300 twice in Test cricket. Shubman Gill was compared to Virender Sehwag’s early days by Ian Bishop.

Regarding a flaw in Gill’s batting style, Bishop mentioned, “He does have a glitch in technique which I was concerned about. He plays often from the leg stump, or leg side of the ball, which encourages seamers to challenge him around the fourth or fifth stump and bring the outside edge into play.”

“Much in a way like Virender Sehwag used to do and he wasn’t too bad a player. In his final innings at Brisbane, he came across his stumps more at times and didn’t let his hands and bat stray too far from his body where he lost control of his stroke outside his eye line. So, he seems aware of it and is prepared to adapt. If he can achieve that, he will be able to continue to score under almost all conditions,” Bishop concluded.

Following his heroics in the recently concluded India-Australia Tests, Shubman Gill has been retained in India’s squad for the forthcoming opening two Tests, of the four-match Test series, versus England at home. He will look to get going in familiar conditions at home and cement his place at the top. The India-England Tests kicks off from February 05 in Chennai.

Team India squad for first two Tests: India squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur