Shubman Gill’s Struggles Continue at No. 3: Disappointing Performance in India vs England Test

The promising young cricketer, Shubman Gill, faced another disappointment at the No. 3 position during the second day of the India vs. England Test in Hyderabad on January 25. Gill struggled to display any assertiveness during his 66-ball innings and was dismissed for a mere 23 runs by debutant spinner Tom Hartley on Friday morning in front of a lively crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Adding just 9 runs to his overnight score, Gill found it challenging to rotate the strike, playing into the hands of Ben Stokes and the England team’s strategy. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen repeatedly pointed out Gill’s lack of intent compared to his batting partner KL Rahul, who entered at No. 4 after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal for 80 in the first over of the day.

Shubman Gill’s Struggles Continue: No. 3 Woes and Shot Selection Woes

Gill found himself under pressure for not keeping the scoreboard moving, and his attempt at a release shot in the 35th over against debutant Tom Hartley led to his downfall. His shot went straight into the hands of Ben Duckett at mid-wicket. Sunil Gavaskar, expressing his frustration on Gill, criticized Gill’s shot selection, stating, “He has done all the hard work, Shubman Gill, and then you see a shot like that. Very, very disappointing.”

Gill, who took up the No. 3 spot after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s debut in the West Indies last year, has struggled to adapt, managing only 189 runs at an average of 23.62 in 9 innings at this position in Tests for India. In his last 10 Test innings, Gill faced difficulties, accumulating 173 runs at an average of 19.22. Despite the challenges, he has shown resilience and determination on the field, but there is a need for him to convert promising starts into substantial innings.

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Former captain Ravi Shastri praised Ben Stokes for sticking with Tom Hartley despite his poor performance on the previous day. Hartley, who conceded over 5 runs on Thursday, received the skipper’s backing and felt relieved after dismissing Gill. On the overall match, India bowled out England for 246 on Day 1, and despite losing Yashasvi early on Day 2, the hosts crossed the 150-run mark. KL Rahul looked in good form after coming in to bat at No. 4.