Shubman Gill made huge strides in Test career by scoring 452 runs in nine innings at an average of 56.50 against England at home but, is that sufficient to retain no. 3?
After 25 Tests, Shubman Gill stands with 1492 runs at an average of 35.52. Out of those, 824 runs have come in boundaries, decorated with 170 fours and 24 sixes. Replacing some of the greats of Indian cricket like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara at number three, Shubman brings a fresh, dynamic approach to run-scoring for the team. In comparison, he has better ball-striking abilities than both of them.
The hallmark of orthodox Test batting is to show respect to the good balls. And, when the bad ones come, it becomes a responsibility to pounce on them. But that doesn’t mean someone can’t crack a boundary against the good deliveries. That, after all, puts more pressure on the bowlers. However, in that case, the batters generally go after most deliveries, putting a low price on their wicket.
Till now, Shubman has faced 2513 deliveries in the five-day format, at an average of nearly 55 balls in an innings. That’s nowhere near Pujara’s 92.14 balls per inning or Dravid’s 109.29 deliveries. If Shubman could wait a little at the open stretch of the road, he could offer more to India in the red-ball format.
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Smooth and rough: Shubman Gill’s Test career
The red-ball beginning of Shubman Gill was satisfying. The 25-year-old showed promise in his very first Australia trip during the 2020-21 season. The right-hander smashed 259 runs in six innings at an average of 51.80, including the memorable 91 at the Gabba. However, this was followed by a stark decline.
The youngster found it hard in his first Test series at home. Against England, he collected 119 runs in seven innings at a poor average of under 20. Only one half-century came off his blade. James Anderson questioned Shubman’s knowledge of his off-sump during the first Chennai Test.
In his previous two away Test series, the Punjab-born had a nightmarish period. He notched up only 119 runs at an average of 19.83 with a high score of 36 in his seven innings in the West Indies and South Africa.
Before this year’s five-Test home series against England, his position was under threat. The average of 30.6 in 37 innings for 1040 runs with four half-centuries and two centuries wasn’t enough. The record was average at best in a country that produces so much talent. But he justified the trust of the selectors.
He finished the England series as the second-highest run-getter earlier this year. Despite a dry Test in Hyderabad, he ended with 452 runs in nine innings at an average of 56.50. If the 104-run knock in Visakhapatnam was a relief, then the 110 in Dharamshala was of resilience. Still, an average of 35.52 is decent but doesn’t cement a position automatically.
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Backup options for India at number three in Tests
It always becomes tough to find a player for a certain position, apart from opening. Most of the batters, playing in a suitable number in the domestic circuit, need to make changes when they play for the national side. Producing someone overnight is next to impossible. But there are a few options.
Rajat Patidar had a brief but tough stint with the Blue Brigade. In the first three Tests against England, he gathered 63 runs at an average of below 11 with a best score of 32. On the domestic circuit, he is a different beast, with 4120 first-class runs in 101 innings at an average of 43.36, carrying 12 centuries.
When Madhya Pradesh claimed the Ranji Trophy title in the 2021-22 season, Patidar was the second-highest run-getter of the edition. In nine innings, the 31-year-old drilled 658 runs at an average of 82.25 with five fifties and two centuries. He followed it up with 565 runs at an average of 47.08 during the 2022/23 season.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is another player knocking on the door of the selectors. Overall, his record of 2092 first-class runs at an average of 42.69 is decent. The only thing that can backfire on his selection in Tests is his consistency. In the 2023-24 Ranji season, he featured in just one game and scored 100 runs. However, in the 2022/23 edition, he smacked 364 runs in seven innings at an average of 52 and a strike rate of around 80. Both he and Patidar will look to extend their good form in the upcoming domestic season.
Is it the end of the road for Shubman Gill?
The England series proved that Shubman could handle pressure. With five Tests at home before the Australia tour, the selectors are unlikely to drop him. Every player goes through tough periods, and the comeback displays the mental strength of the individual.
Shubman had an excellent 2023 when he was the top run-getter across formats. The right-hander smashed 2154 runs in 52 innings at an average of 46.82 and a strike rate of 101.22. There isn’t much technical fault in his game, but it boils down to his mindset.
In the last two away Border Gavaskar Trophy series, Pujara was India’s number three batter. In the 2018/19 summer, he faced 1258 deliveries, followed by 928 balls during the 2020/21 season. Shubman doesn’t need to bat in an old-school mode. That’s not his natural game, after all. But these numbers show the contribution of the number three in those two successful campaigns.
A confident Shubman Gill will be crucial for the Rohit Sharma-led side. And the confidence will flow up once he does well against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home. These are not acid tests, but he is certainly walking on the edge of the bridge.
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