Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar recently commented on Shubman Gill's performance, highlighting the need for the young batter to score consistently in Test cricket to stay competitive in India's red-ball team. This observation came after Gill's early dismissal for just 2 runs on the first day of the Boxing Day Test between South Africa and India at Centurion.
Manjrekar acknowledged Gill's evident talent and potential, referring to him as the "real deal." However, he emphasized the importance of Gill finding his rhythm in Test cricket, especially given the intense competition for spots in the Indian squad.
"He is the real deal. There is class there. Somebody who gets a 90 in his very first Test match in foreign condition against a good attack, has to have class. Now, finally, it has come to be about delivery, right? It's about runs now. And his average at the moment is in the low 30s. He has been around for a while. The thing in India is that he has got batting competition coming through," Manjrekar told Star Sports.
"Shubman Gill has to keep getting runs. If you look at his T20 performances, you know he is getting some serious competition there. Test cricket, I think, they will back him more, but the numbers have to keep coming.
"At the moment, Gill looks entrenched and established in the 50-over format. The other two formats, there is work to be done, but class-wise, he is a real deal," he added.
Gill, who was playing at the No. 3 position, fell victim to a delivery from South African debutant Nandre Burger. The ball, angled down the leg-side, caught a faint edge and was caught by the wicketkeeper. This early dismissal contributed to India losing three wickets, including that of openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, within the first hour of play.
Gill's last significant contribution in Tests was a century against Australia in Ahmedabad in March. Since that innings, he has struggled to pass the 30-run mark in his subsequent six Test innings. Additionally, Gill's transition from an opening batsman to the No. 3 position since the West Indies tour has not yielded the expected results, a change made to accommodate Jaiswal at the top of the order.
While Gill has shown promise in ODI cricket, his Test record has been less impressive, with only two centuries and four fifties in 34 innings over a span of three years. His Test average has remained below 30 in the last three years, raising concerns about the solidity of India's top order, especially in the crucial No. 3 spot, previously held by Cheteshwar Pujara.
Despite the top-order collapse, India managed to put up a fighting total of 208 for 8 on a challenging Centurion pitch, with wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul leading the resistance with an unbeaten 70. Only 59 overs of play were possible on Day 1 due to rain and bad light interruptions, setting the stage for an intriguing contest on the following days.
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