Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer has proposed an intriguing alteration for the team after India’s disappointing loss in the opening Test match against England in Hyderabad. Jaffer took to X (formerly Twitter) to suggest a potential change in India's top-order combination.
The 45-year-old's recommendation comes in the wake of India's defeat in the first Test on January 28. Shubman Gill encountered difficulties in both innings in Hyderabad, falling prey to spinners. Gill appeared hesitant in the first innings and was caught attempting to hit Tom Hartley for a boundary. In the second innings of the match, the 24-year-old was once more dismissed by Hartley, who managed to trap the batter at a silly point.
Jaffer went on Twitter and proposed the idea of moving Gill back to his original position as an opener to address his recent struggles in Test cricket.
"Gill and Jaiswal should open and Rohit should bat at no. 3 in 2nd test in my opinion. Waiting to bat for his turn isn't helping Shubman, it's better he opens the inn. Rohit plays spin really well, so batting at no.3 should not worry him too much," Wasim Jaffer suggested on Twitter.
Shubman Gill's performance in Test cricket has declined since he was moved to the No. 3 position. In his last five Test matches following the position change, the batter has failed to score a half-century. With an average of 29.52 after 21 Test matches, concerns have been raised by several former cricketers.
Former England batter Kevin Pietersen analysed Shubman's batting in the first innings of the Hyderabad Test match, noting that his inability to rotate the strike was causing him trouble. Pietersen observed that due to Shubman's inability to keep the scoreboard moving, he tends to go for big shots, ultimately leading to his own downfall.
The second Test between India and England will be held in Vizag, starting from February 2.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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