Ricky Ponting sheds light on Shubman Gill’s lean form in BGT 2024-25 ahead of 4th Test

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has opened up on Shubman Gill’s struggles in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Gill has scored 60 runs in three innings at an average of 20 in the ongoing series and he hasn’t been able to convert his starts.

The right-hander hasn’t scored a fifty in the last 16 innings while playing outside Asia. In fact, his last fifty came against Australia in the historic Gabba Test on the 2020-21 tour when he scored a match-winning knock of 91 runs.

Ponting feels Gill is changing things too quickly and that is why he is not getting consistent scores under his belt.

Ricky Ponting said on ICC Review, “I love watching him play. When you’re watching him bat and bat well, he looks as good as anyone in world cricket. But the numbers don’t really stack up, do they, away from home? I watched him a little bit in Adelaide and it almost looked like he changed things up too much. Scott Boland was bowling and he changed his guard, he moved across to the off stump, presented his front pad to Boland, and Boland got him out with a full straight one.”

The two-time World Cup-winning captain added Gill needs to back himself more to get positive results in the Australian conditions.

“If anything, I think he needs to back himself a little bit more, needs to back his defensive technique a little bit more here in Australia and still find a way to be able to score and score quickly. I’m sure when he’s at home or when he’s generally scored runs anywhere around the world, he scores them in a nice, attacking mode and almost to the point where he’s not really thinking about getting out – he’s only thinking about scoring runs.”

The fourth Test match between India and Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26th December.