"His Test career went off the rails slightly" - Sanjay Manjrekar analyzes Shubman Gill's brilliant return to form in red-ball cricket
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has hailed Shubman Gill for making a brilliant comeback to Test cricket after his red-ball career went off track following an impressive start. Manjrekar attributed the youngster's Test returns in recent times to his application and hunger to succeed in the longer format.
Gill notched up his fifth Test ton on Day 3 of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, September 21. The right-handed batter struck an unbeaten 119 off 176 balls in India's second innings, adding 167 runs for the fourth wicket with Rishabh Pant (109 off 128).
The 25-year-old's knock on Saturday against Bangladesh was his third three-figure score in his last eight Test innings. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar analyzed Gill's newfound consistency in the red-ball format and opined that he has looked like a different player since his success in the Visakhapatnam Test against England. He commented:
"His Test career went off the rails slightly. He started very well against Australia in Australia - got a 90. After that, he had a few opportunities against not so great oppositions in India and didn't quite cash in, didn't get the big scores and then had the tough tours. South Africa is never easy and then came to India and failed in that Hyderabad Test.
"It was like do or die, that Test match in Vizag. And that's where Shubman Gill showed a facet of his, which I will continue to remind myself of. The way he played in that innings and after that innings, not just the runs that he got, but the application that he showed, his hunger to make a name in Test cricket," the 59-year-old added.
Following tons from Gill and Pant, India declared their second innings in Chepauk at 287-4 after 64 overs on Day 3. Chasing 515, Bangladesh were 158-4 at stumps.
Shubman Gill's impressive numbers since the Vizag Test
After being dismissed for 23 and 0 in the first Test against England in Hyderabad in January, Gill was under pressure to retain his place in the team. The youngster, however, responded with scores of 34 and 104 in the next Test in Visakhapatnam.
After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings in Rajkot, the elegant batter contributed a crucial 91 in the second essay. He scored 38 and 52* in the next Test against England in Ranchi before ending the series with 110 in Dharamsala.