BGT: Karthik Highlights Gill's 'Technical Flaw', Claims 'He Has Played Subpar Shots'

New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik identified Shubman Gill's 'technical flaw' in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, where he has only managed to accumulate 60 runs over three innings thus far on the tour.

With increasing pressure on India's batting lineup following disappointing performances in Adelaide and Brisbane, the importance of the upcoming Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) cannot be overstated, as the five-Test series stands at 1-1.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill faced difficulties at the top of the order, while Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and captain Rohit Sharma had lackluster performances in the middle order during the last two Tests.

Karthik remarked that Gill has not adjusted his playing style to suit overseas conditions, which is a significant factor contributing to his struggles in Australia.

"I believe that Shubman Gill has indeed developed a minor technical flaw, where he tends to push at the ball. This is a common tendency when you play a lot of white-ball cricket. Even Travis Head exhibits this, but he has found a way to manage it. Players like Shubman Gill often fall into the trap of playing the way they do in India versus how they should adapt abroad," Karthik stated on Cricbuzz.

"The moment a batsman sees the ball released from the bowler, their instinct tells them to attack a full ball. Batsmen traveling to countries like Australia, England, and South Africa need to condition themselves in practice to play a fuller ball carefully, especially against a new ball. They should either A) play with slightly softer hands, or B) focus on playing the ball close to their body or leaving it altogether.

"Shubman Gill is approaching his innings as if he were in India, where he instinctively goes for the ball with hard hands. However, in Australia, particularly at venues like Gabba, playing square of the wickets can be easier than playing straight. Therefore, at the beginning of his innings, he needs to remind himself to leave the ball," Karthik elaborated.

Karthik concluded by emphasizing that Gill has been part of the cricketing scene for a considerable duration, making it unacceptable for him to lose his wicket due to reckless shots. He mentioned Gill's dismissal at the Gabba, where he was caught trying to execute an overly ambitious drive off the front foot.

"For a No.3 batsman with considerable experience, Shubman Gill has played quite a few subpar shots, and there’s no sugarcoating that. Let’s be honest, the Indian batting lineup, as a collective group, has not performed well for some time, and with each passing innings, they are piling on the pressure," Karthik concluded.

The fourth Test match between India and Australia is set to begin on December 26.