Sunil Gavaskar noted that the neglect of Shubman Gill in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 implies that he has been dropped. He pointed out that the elegant batsman warmed the bench and his replacement Washington Sundar was not used effectively either.
India decided to bolster their bowling for the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne by including Sundar in the playing XI at Gill’s expense. However, that move did not get the desired results as the visitors lost by 184 points on the last day (Monday, December 30).
During the discussion about Star sportsGavaskar was asked for his opinion Rohit Sharma stating in the post-match press conference that Gill was not dropped but was left out as the side needed a bowling cushion.
“How much bowling did you give to Washington Sundar? What kind of cushion are you talking about? The team’s demands are perfectly fine. You have to make decisions based on that, but you left him (Gill) out of the team, you can call it a drop in whatever language you speak,” he replied .
“You can say you dropped him or dropped him, both are the same. Dropped looks different, dropped looks different and dropped looks different. I’m talking English but at the end that guy was sitting in the dugout and he wasn’t on the ground,” Gavaskar added .
Sundar he bowled just 19 overs in the Melbourne Test, picking up just one wicket in two innings. He played a responsible knock of 50 runs in India’s first innings and remained unbeaten on five in the second essay.
“You got Shubman Gill out just because you wanted to open and KL Rahul had to come in at No.3” – Sunil Gavaskar
In the same discussion, Sunil Gavaskar asked if he expects India to accept a big call-up for the fifth Test, with Shubman Gill waiting at his doorstep.
“I can’t say what the big decision will be because I don’t know what kind of discussions are going on in the team environment. I just want to say that your batting was not successful and you dropped the batsman, Shubman Gill, for this match. You dropped Shubman Gill just because you (Rohit Sharma) wanted to open and KL Rahul had to come in at No.3,” he replied.
The cricketer-turned-commentator has questioned the Indian think tank for weakening their batting by leaving them out Gill for the Boxing Day Test.
“You only had five batsmen. Ravindra Jadeja was at No.6. Jadeja batted very well at the Gabba, but he is an all-rounder. You weakened your batting instead of strengthening it. Shubman Gill scored 30 runs in both innings at Adelaide he didn’t play in the first Test and got away with a mistake he made in Brisbane that? You did that and look what the result was,” Gavaskar remarked.
Gill scored 31 runs in India’s first innings of the second Test in Adelaide and 28 runs in the second essay. He was dismissed for one in his only innings in the third Test in Brisbane.
Edited by Ritwik Kumar
