Former Indian opener Aakash has predicted that Shubman Gill will play 10-15 years of Test cricket but may be not be an opener. Gill was dismissed by an outgoing delivery in the first innings by Neil Wagner and then he was plumbed in front of the wickets by Tim Southee by an incoming delivery.
Gill was well settled in the first innings as he had scored 28 runs and was dismissed for only eight runs in the second dig. The youngster has shown the skills to go a long way in his career but he needs to tweak his technique a bit in challenging conditions.
Gill can learn a lot from experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.
Meanwhile, it is never easy to open the innings especially in the tough English conditions. This is the first time that Gill is opening in England and he has looked at sea.
On the other hand, Gill had a fantastic start to his Test career as he scored 259 runs in three Test matches against Australia, including a crucial knock of 91 runs in the Gabba Test match. But the young lad could not get going in the home Test series against England as he scored 119 runs in four Test matches.
Gill scored a good knock of 85 runs in the intra-squad match and thus he was backed as an opener with Rohit Sharma in the imperative World Test Championship final.
Aakash Chopra said while talking on his YouTube Channel, “Shubman Gill got dismissed this time by an incoming delivery which hit the pads. Last time he got out to an outgoing delivery. He will have to be a little careful. He will play 10-15 years of Test cricket but maybe not as an opener.”
Chopra feels Gill will need to change his technique a bit as his bat comes down really fast, which lands him in trouble.
“I feel as his career progresses, he will come down the order and settle at No.3 or No.4. But as of now, he is playing as an opener, you expect runs from him. His timing is very good but the bat comes down very fast and there are chances of getting hit on the pads or being caught behind.”
Gill will look to pull up his socks before the five-match Test series against England.
