Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan slams Shubman Gill following his performance in the recently concluded West Indies Test series.
Zaheer Khan Slams Shubman Gill Over His Recent Test Performance
The right-handed batter Shubman Gill was included in India’s Test for the West Indies 2023 here the team was scheduled to play 2 Test matches. Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal’s inclusion in the game pushed Gill’s spot a position down and Shubman Gill opened at no.3 position.
While Gill was expected to showcase an outstanding performance, Punjab born failed to fulfil the hope of the Indian fans and scored just 6 runs in the 1st test where India won the game by an innings and 141 runs.
In the 2nd Test, Gill scored 10 runs in the first inning and scored unbeaten 29 runs in the second inning which resulted in a draw after the final day of the match washed off by rain.
Zaheer Khan who early picked Ashwin as the player of the match over Mohammed Siraj now slams Shibman Gill over his below-average performance.
Rating his performance, former India pacer Zaheer Khan, said on Jio Cinema: “I have given 4 out of 10. Just keeping that 5 as an average benchmark. And then you have below average series and then you have above average series.”
“My rating would be same as Zak. This series would be below his expectations. he would not be very happy. But these are early days. I am sure he will learn. Once you have marked him as a multi-format player, you need to give him that space,” Saba Karim, former BCCI selector, added.
Zaheer agreed that Shubman needs to reset his mindset while batting at No.3 as he has been opening before this.
“As you try to gauge from outside, you get the feeling that when you ask someone like Pujara not to be picked in the side, then you are looking ahead. That’s a clear cut indication of that. With Shubman Gill, the fact that there was a huge opening stand, has also not helped. Because as an opener you have a pattern of opening an innings.
As an opener, you look to take your time. The ball is nice and hard. There will be extra bounce. there will be a timing, tempo. When you have a big opening stand, the ball is softer. That’s what is happening, He needs that time. He needs to reset his mindset on batting at no.3,” Zaheer added.
Ahead of the 1st ODI game of the series which is scheduled to play on July 27 in Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, West Indies announced their 15-member ODI squad.
