India vs England: Before Vizag Test Shubman Gill was given ultimatum; batsman was ready for domestic grind

After Sbubman Gill’s two-ball duck in the second innings of the Hyderabad Test, the team management had given him an ultimatum that Visakhapatnam would be his last chance to retain the No 3 spot in India’s Test team, The Indian Express understands.

The paper also learned that there was a conversation around Gill that he could have been sent to domestic cricket to work on his flaws with a week’s gap between the second and Third Test tin Rajkot. Had he not fought his critics back with a valuable hundred in the second innings in Visakhapatnam, he could have flown to Mohali, where Punjab are hosting Gujarat from February 9 in the Ranji Trophy.

“I will go and play the Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat in Mohali,” he told one of his family members, The Indian Express learns.

A determined and composed knock acknowledged by the Vizag crowd 👏👏

Well played Shubman Gill 🙌

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/X85JZGt0EV#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @ShubmanGill | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/9GkHZt4pzS

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 4, 2024

Following a barren spell of runs, wherein Gill had only managed 153 runs in the nine innings with the highest score of 36, his place was under immense scrutiny. Bowlers laid bare his vulnerability against both spin and seam movement. He would jab at the spinners with hard hands and would lunge at the seamers with a half-forward front-foot, like in the first innings against James Anderson. The flaws have not yet been fully rectified, but the century gives him the confidence and time to correct those.

Among his vociferous critics was Former India captain Anil Kumble, who criticised the team management for giving Gill an extra “cushion” that veteran Cheteshwar Pujara never got. “He (Gill) has been given the cushion perhaps even Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t get, although he (Pujara) has played over 100 Tests. “I keep coming back to him (Pujara) mainly because that was his place (No 3) not too long ago. Pujara played in that World Test Championship final and post that, it’s been Shubman Gill, who’s been moving from the opener’s slot, and he wanted to bat at No. 3,” Kumble had said on ‘JioCinema’ after India lost the opening Test by 28 runs.

But Gill shut his ears to all the voices of criticism and waded through the tough period. He rode his luck, he could have got out at least thrice in the first ten balls he faced, but he survived and maximised the breaks, like good batsmen do.

6⃣,4⃣,4⃣

Shubman Gill accelerates against Rehan Ahmed and moves into the 80s 💥💥

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/X85JZGt0EV#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @ShubmanGill | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/n14idRE73B

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 4, 2024

He teed off with a swivel that earned him a boundary as the ball went past a diving shot mid-wicket. He survived two close calls at the score of 4. The faint inside edge saved him against Tom Hartley. Gill was even reluctant to take a DRS and there was a smile of disbelief on his face after the decision was overturned. Kevin Pietersen during the post-lunch show said that Gill got away with that decision. “That wink tells you the story, he was very lucky,” said the former England captain.

Seven balls later, an umpire’s call decision saved him as it looked like James Anderson had his man for the sixth time in eight innings. Anderson has dismissed Gill five times so far in Test cricket and Gill has managed only 45 runs. When Gill was on 21, the edge flew between Ben Foakes and Ben Stokes at the first slip off Tom Hartley’s bowling.

He scored gingerly at the start but he rode his luck to complete a much-needed century that would certainly give him breathing space.

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