Shubman Gill has the backing of Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border to start alongside Mayank Agarwal during India’s test series against Australia. Watching the series named after him, the first men in 10,000 test races discussed Gill and Prithvi Shaw’s prospects for sealing a spot in the Indian lineup, with the consensus that Shaw’s aggressive style was working against them.
“I think Shubman Gill should start with Mayank for the first test match because he has shown good form,” Gavaskar said. “Allan Border was there for the games [practice games], [and] he was very impressed with what he saw of Shubman Gill. So I imagine I should open with Mayank Agarwal for the first test. “
If Gill is chosen, he will make his test debut and displace Shaw, who was the starting starter alongside Mayank Agarwal in India’s latest test series in New Zealand. In the two warm-up games, Gill’s scores (0, 29, 43, 65) progressively improved, while Shaw had a more uneven streak with scores of 0, 19, 40, and 3. Shaw has had a torrid fit streak. . on this tour, including the 2020 IPL, and his duck in the first practice game is fourth in his last seven innings across all formats.
“I was in Sydney the last few days, watching the Indian team against Australia A. Wow, I was impressed with Gill,” Border said. “I really think he has something about him, his technique. I know he’s young so he can play some rash shots here and there, but this kid looks great as a player. He would be my pick among the guys that Sierra.
“I know you guys [rate] Shaw, but it seems to me that he plays a ball shot. Against the new ball it looks good on flat courts, but in Australia, you have to be a little more attentive to shot selection. To me it seems a little loose off the stump. If I am the Indian coach, I am looking very closely at young Gill. “
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Shaw has currently played in four tests since his debut in October 2018, and is averaging 55.83. However, he seems to have little confidence since cricket resumed this year and Gavaskar suggested he needed to work on his defense.
“I agree with AB [Alland Border] about that, “Gavaskar said.” I think he has to spend a little more time evaluating his hitting. Because as a starting batsman, you have to take time to see what the pitch is doing, to see what the bowlers are doing. And trying to hit like you’re doing right now won’t make you a consistent player. Yes, he will do races from time to time … [but] you have to toughen your defense. I agree with AB that he plays too many shots early in innings. “
As for the other India starter, Agarwal seems keen to keep his spot, earned after a strong debut during India’s last successful tour of Australia. Agarwal had a stellar IPL season earlier this year, and after a couple of unconverted starts in the ODI series, he made fifty in the final practice game.
“My player to watch from India will be Agarwal, because he came to Australia for the last test matches two years ago and he really showed the way,” Gavaskar said. “Because until then India hadn’t had a start. But they hit brilliantly, actually showing how to take Nathan Lyon down because he was going down the field, hitting him straight. The freshness of youth, you could say.”
“Since then, he’s only gotten better. He’s gone from strength to strength. Look at the season he had last year, in which he scored two hundred against South Africa. He had two hundred in a row, if I’m not mistaken. [two double-centuries in three matches]. So he’s the guy I’m really looking forward to in this series. “
On another highly praised topic, the Indian wicketkeeper debate, Gavaskar said that he hoped India would choose Rishabh Pant over Wriddhiman Saha through this series. Pant has been India’s preferred choice in overseas testing, even as Saha has been available before, and Gavaskar said that and a couple of other factors would work in its favor. Not least his hundred blisters against Australia A in the second practice game.
“It will be difficult for the selection committee because Rishabh played in all four test matches during India. [last] tour and also got a hundred. And it seemed to have gotten under the skin of some of the Australian players with its twittering behind the stumps, “Gavaskar said.” So I guess the team would probably look to have it. And of course, when you finish a hundred, a few days before, I think you would be the choice. “
Popular opinion on who is the best wicketkeeper has long been skewed in Saha’s direction, and the experienced wicketkeeper returned directly to the Indian team when he returned from a long injury suspension last year. That was, however, during the local Indian season where his skill against spinners is considered far superior. When India went to New Zealand, Pant was back on the team.
“When you play on fields where the goalkeeper has to deal with stumps, where the ball spins a little bit, that’s when you tend to pick your best goalkeeper, in which case, Wriddhiman Saha would be the obvious choice.” Gavaskar said. “But here, because India will have pacemakers, you can stay behind. You have much more time, about 15 yards behind the stumps. My feeling is that they will go for that.
Also, since at the top of the order the Indians are a bit shaky, they won’t know who to go with. […] So with the uncertainty they would like to strengthen their hitting and I think Rishabh Pant will play. But I hope he plays all six because then that will allow you to pick five players to get 20 wickets. “
Watch the Border-Gavaskar test series from December 17 at 8:30 am IST onwards, live and exclusive only on Sony Six, Sony Ten 1 and Sony Ten 3 (Hindi) channels
Varun Shetty is deputy editor of ESPNcricinfo
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