In every net session, Shubman Gill showcases exactly why India places unwavering trust in his abilities. The elegance with which he handles challenging shots is nothing short of extraordinary. At the Gabba, for instance, he faced a rising delivery aimed at his ribs. With a subtle adjustment of his body, he swayed inside the line, pivoted on his back foot, and dispatched the ball with surgical precision to his chosen spot.
The Elegance of Gill’s Strokeplay
Cricket enthusiasts often rely on the "eye test" to gauge a batter's calibre. This informal measure examines how composed a player appears at the crease. Does the batter fluidly move towards the ball, or are they stuck in hesitation? Do they succumb to the pressure of quality bowling, or do they make it seem trivial? In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Gill has consistently passed this test with flying colours. Yet, his highest score in the series remains a modest 31—a pattern that has persisted over time.
Take the Pataudi Trophy in Birmingham, 2022, for instance. India was looking to solidify their 2-1 lead. Gill began his innings with a couple of picture-perfect drives and then executed a commanding pull off Stuart Broad. These shots reflected his natural instincts, which earned him 17 runs off 20 balls. However, those very instincts led to his downfall when James Anderson tempted him with a wide delivery, and Gill succumbed, dismissed for 17 off 24 balls. Since his remarkable 91 off 146 at the Gabba nearly four years ago, Gill’s highest score outside Asia remains just 36. In 16 innings across Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, he has managed a mere 267 runs at an average of 17.80.
A Pattern of Promise and Pitfalls
Gill has developed a reputation for looking spectacular at the crease before abruptly throwing his wicket away. Earlier this week at the Gabba, he middled a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, only to find the edge that landed in a packed slip cordon, where Mitchell Marsh completed a stunning catch. Ironically, this happened after Gill had addressed the media, stating how the team was focused on posting substantial first-innings scores.
Gill once shared that his technique had transitioned seamlessly to international cricket, with even his coaches agreeing there wasn’t much to change. His flair for playing attacking shots, particularly off the back foot, stood out. Observers naturally assumed that his defensive game—the "boring" aspects like leaving or blocking deliveries—was equally refined. However, it’s become evident that the same "hard hands" he uses to execute powerful pulls, jabs, and punches often betray him when he’s required to defend.
The aggressive tendencies that serve him well in limited-overs cricket have created problems in Tests. Against disciplined line-and-length bowling, he frequently plays at deliveries better left alone. In the 2023 WTC final, he made the opposite mistake, leaving a ball he should have played. This indecision reached a peak on the challenging pitch at Port of Spain, where he scored just 10 runs while other top-order batters notched fifties. His once-reliable ability to handle left-arm pacers has also waned. A year ago, he averaged an astounding 145 against them; now, that average has plummeted to 13.80 after being dismissed five times in the past year.
Gill faced further scrutiny at the start of 2024, with two low scores in the home series against England casting doubt on his place in the team. Determined to prove his worth, he put in relentless hours of practice, even facing deliveries from local kids in the nets with utmost seriousness. His hard work paid off as he emerged the second-highest scorer in the series, registering two vital centuries. Gill later credited this period as a turning point in his career, noting the importance of preparation and repetition in overcoming challenges.
Rising to the Challenges of No. 3
Eighteen months into his stint as India’s No. 3 batter, Gill is still adapting to the role. While his ideal position might be lower in the order, that spot remains unavailable. As India prepares for the fourth Test in Melbourne, where conditions are expected to favour fast bowlers, Gill will need to address the disconnect in his technique. Australia’s bowlers will undoubtedly aim to exploit his tendency to reach for deliveries outside off-stump.
Though there’s no guarantee he won’t fall victim to the same traps, Gill would surely want to make his wicket harder to claim. Batting in the top three has been particularly challenging in this series, but for Gill, it’s an opportunity to rise above his inconsistencies and reaffirm his immense potential.