BGT: Shastri Comments on Gill's Inclusion in the Playing Eleven
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New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri stated that a player like Shubman Gill, with his impressive skills, should be a part of India's playing eleven in Tests. He noted that the manner in which Gill fits into the lineup for the upcoming Sydney Test against Australia is ultimately a decision for the team.
Gill was unexpectedly left out of India's playing eleven for the Boxing Day Test against Australia, leading to a defeat by 184 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Although Gill had an average of 43.3 in Tests in 2024, it later dipped to 23.8, which influenced the decision to include Washington Sundar instead of him during the Melbourne match.
“Here we have Shubman Gill, a player of his caliber who averaged over 40 in 2024, not being included, which is quite unfortunate. It makes one wonder why he is sitting on the bench. If I had to choose between him and a player averaging 40, how could I justify leaving him out?”
“My question is, how can he not be in the XI? The decision of how he gets back into the XI is up to the team. Averaging over 40 in the year 2024 is commendable; very few players achieve that. For Gill to be sidelined is a tough reality to accept,” said Shastri on The ICC Review show.
Sundar, selected primarily for his bowling skills, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy, bowled a total of 27 overs in the Boxing Day Test across both innings, while Jasprit Bumrah bowled 28.4 overs in the first innings and 24.4 in the second.
With reports suggesting that Rohit Sharma may be rested for the Sydney Test, it is anticipated that Gill will be reinstated in the playing eleven. “There needs to be a very solid reason for telling him that he’s not playing.”
“If team balance is the issue and we are fielding an extra bowler, that bowler should be given enough overs. If he’s not bowling adequately, then why exclude a player like Gill? This is an area that requires careful examination regarding how you can keep such a talented player out of the game,” concluded Shastri.
