Most wicket taker of India, Anil Kumble, showed his faith more in Cheteshwar Pujara than Shubman Gill. His statement came after India lost to England by 28 runs in the 1st Test match of a 5 match series in Hyderabad.
Indian most successful spinner, said in JioCinema that Gill got many chances after failing to score runs in Tests, while Pujara didn’t get many chances to show his class.
“He (Gill) has been given the cushion perhaps even a Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t get, because although he (Pujara) has played over a 100 Tests, I keep coming back to him mainly because that was his place not too long ago. Cheteshwar played in that World Test Championship final and post that, it’s been Shubman, who’s been moving from the opener’s slot, and he himself wanted to bat at No. 3. So, when you want to bat at No. 3 especially in India because you have that talent, you certainly need to work on your game. He has the skills, he is young and he’s learning, but he needs to do it in Vizag, otherwise the pressure will be on him.”
Cheteshwar has been India’s one of the best players in Tests as he played more than 100 Tests for the team. He last played against Australia in the World Test Championship on 7th June 2023. Due to some inconsistency with the bat he currently has to sit outside. But he performed brilliantly in the domestic and hit a few centuries in recent times. After performing well in the domestic circuit, it was believed that after Virat Kohli exit from the starting two test matches against England, he might be considered into the squad but it failed.
Shubman has been brilliant in ODI’s but he failed to score much in the Tests as he averages just 32.20 in 18 matches. In the first test match against England he scored 23 runs in the first and 0 in the second innings. After his poor performance in the Test Kumble suggests,
“He (Gill) needs to be a lot freer. He needs to score runs. He needs to come up with his own plan of action to tackle spin, because he has hard hands. It’s good for good surfaces where the ball is coming on nicely and the faster bowlers are bowling at you. But when the ball is turning, when it’s slow, you need to use your hands and control and check your shots.
That’s something he needs to work on. It can’t be one flow all the time. Yes, four days before the next Test, can you work on your skill? I think it’s all the mindset. You can certainly work on your mindset, and you have the best possible person as the coach (Rahul Dravid) to manage that for him.”