All debates over Shubman Gill have been put to rest. A long batting stint against the Prime Minister’s XI with the pink ball, and India know that their No. 3 batter is back. And for us at RevSportz, it is vindication of a story we had done, going against the grain of what had been said by a few leading media houses. From day one, we had maintained that Gill’s injury wasn’t as serious, and there was no chance of him missing the second Test. Clearly, we have been proved right.
Gill, may I say, looked assured. He was getting behind the line of the ball and was playing without any concern whatsoever. He has already had many batting stints at the nets and is clearly ready to take back his position in the batting line-up. In fact, as the innings progressed, Gill grew in confidence. Hitting the leg spinner Lloyd Pope with disdain was the final stamp that he is fit and back to where he needs to be. He still has some days to train and, by the time of the Adelaide Test, should also be ready to get back to his usual fielding position.
In our many shows over the last few days, we have had viewers asking us time and again about Gill. It was only natural because they were reading conflicting reports. While we have been reporting that Gill is ready or will be ready for Adelaide, others have said that he remains a doubtful starter for the second Test. May be that’s why you need to have people on ground. Be there, see for yourself and then report, and not just depend on sources.
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While Gill is now no longer a concern, Rohit Sharma’s form will be a matter of worry for India going into Adelaide. While it’s now more or less evident that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open, Rohit playing away from his body in Canberra and offering a simple catch behind the wicket was a major opportunity lost. He could have played himself in, and got some much-needed game time. Now, he just has four more days to get ready, and against the pink ball, it isn’t going to be easy.
Rohit has to be more disciplined and leave balls outside off stump. Trying to attack from ball one or chasing deliveries outside the off stump won’t yield dividends, and India needs Rohit to go back to his 2021 England self. That’s the main issue for India in the next few days, with all other selection queries now answered.
It will be a full-strength India in Adelaide, and if the captain gets his rhythm back, Australia sans Josh Hazlewood will surely not have it on a platter. With Gill back, the focus now will shift squarely to Rohit as the teams assemble in Adelaide later today.