Shubman Gill has a bundle of talent. But it is one thing to have such ability and a very different thing to do justice to it. So far, he has not in his Test match career. His red-ball record is modest and unless he scores in tough situations, he can never be a great of Indian cricket. And by great, I mean the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli. That’s the yardstick of greatness and Gill, so far, has not even reached halfway.
His shot in the first innings of the Gabba Test is evidence. He had just come out to bat after India lost the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal. He needed to be out there, for he had been one of the better batters on view for India in Adelaide. And yet, the third ball he faced, he flashed at one on the eighth stump and was out.
Why did he play that shot? Was it to show intent? Positive attitude? Intensity? What explains the shot that Gill played?
The truth is that intent doesn’t mean playing shots. It is not about being aggressive. Intent is also about being disciplined. About leaving balls. Refusing to get out and staying out there. Agreeing to look ugly and grinding it out. That’s what intent in Test cricket is all about. Sadly for Gill, it is all flashy brilliance so far and unless he redeems himself, he won’t qualify as a Test great.
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Good players learn from opponents. Gill has been fielding close in and watching Marnus Labuschagne struggle. No question that one of Australia’s batting fulcrums hasn’t been in the best form. And yet, in Brisbane, he blunted the new ball and set it up for Steve Smith and Travis Head. More than the runs scored, his staying out there meant Australia could take control and dominate the second and third sessions. Gill, on the contrary, threw his wicket away in trying to dominate, and put his team in a hole.
But why only Gill? The same could be said of Jaiswal and Kohli also. Three of the most ordinary balls of the Indian innings so far got three wickets, and that’s the reality that India have to confront.
Can Gill do better in the second innings? The truth is that he certainly has a chance. There is a lot of rain predicted for days 4 and 5 and, in all probability, 70 or 80 overs is all that India will have to play out over the next two days combined. A gritty effort and this match can be salvaged. A draw remains a very real possibility, and that’s what should spur India. You don’t just give it away like Gill did, for that’s where you end up letting yourself down. With the talent he has, he can do so much better. For only then will the talent be of any real value to Indian cricket.
The challenge now is simple – knuckle down. Show character. Stay strong and believe that the job can still be done. Be it Gill or anyone else. A draw here, and it will be all to play for In Melbourne. That’s what India have to do over the next two days.
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