“Definitely has a slight technical error” - Dinesh Karthik analyses Indian batter’s lean form in BGT 2024-25
Former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes Shubman Gill has a technical flaw in his batting, resulting in his poor run in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under. The 25-year-old impressed in his debut Test series during the 2020-21 tour of Australia.
However, Gill's Test form in SENA countries has since been poor, with an average of 17.07 in seven outings. The youngster has struggled in the ongoing Australia serie, scoring only 60 runs at an average of 20 in two matches.
Speaking on Cricbuzz about Gill's worrying Test form at the end of the third Test against Australia, Karthik said:
"I think Shubman Gill definitely has a slight technical error, which is pushing at the ball. When you play a lot of white ball cricket, you tend to do that. Travis Head does that as well, but what he has found is the method of doing that, and I think that players like Shubman Gill are caught in the trap of the way they bat in India and the way they bat outside. The moment you see the ball released from the bowler, your mind tells you that this is a full ball you need to go at it."
He added:
"Batsmen who travel abroad to places like Australia, England and South Africa tune themselves in practice when they see a fuller ball like that, especially against a new ball - A) they play with slightly soft hands, or B) they try and focus on playing the ball as close to the body or leave. Shubman Gill is playing like he would play in India, where he sees the release, goes for the ball with hard hands."
Despite his incredible ODI numbers, Shubman Gill has struggled in Tests with an average of under 36 in 31 matches. His away Test numbers are even worse, averaging under 29 in 14 games.
"With every passing innings, they are putting pressure on themselves" - Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik feels the entire Indian batting lineup has been misfiring for a long time with each innings further adding pressure.
Before the Australia series, Team India suffered a 0-3 home Test series whitewash with the team score going past 300 only once in six innings. It has been a similar tale in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy with India scoring over 300 only once in five innings.
"For a No.3 batsman who has been around for so long, Shubman Gill has played a very, very ordinary shot (Brisbane Test), there are no mincing words here. And let's be honest here, that the Indian batting, as a group, have not fired here for some time now, and with every passing innings, they are putting pressure on themselves," said Karthik.
Even with the batters' struggles, Team India find themselves in with a real chance of defeating Australia in a Test series in Australia for a third consecutive time.
The five-match series is level at 1-1 with the fourth Test set to be played in Melbourne, starting December 26.