“Leave your image in the dressing room” - Indian legend slams Shubman Gill during BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar slammed young batter Shubman Gill for his tame dismissal on Day 3 of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane. After Australia scored a massive 445 in their first innings, India suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over.
However, with India under immense pressure to see off the new ball, Gill drove loosely at a Mitchell Starc delivery angling away to be caught brilliantly by Mitchell Marsh at gully. The 25-year-old walked back to the dressing room after lasting just three deliveries and scoring 1.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar criticized Gill for his ungainly shot so early in the innings.
"Leave your image in the dressing room. Certain shots are dangerous at the start of your innings before you are set, and you don't have the measure of what the wicket is doing. Keep all those shots in your back pocket. Take them out when you are 30-40-50 not out, then can you get those shots again," he said.
Gavaskar added:
"Not very good shot selection, you could say. It was a very good catch, so there was a little bit of bad luck as well over there. But he could have left that ball alone; it would have gone harmlessly to the wicketkeeper. Gill is now back in the dugout."
Unfortunately for Team India, Gill's early dismissal saw them sink to a dismal 6/2 in the third over.
The youngster missed the series opener due to a thumb injury before returning for the second Test in Adelaide. Despite looking solid in both innings, Gill was dismissed by fuller deliveries on 31 and 28 as India suffered a ten-wicket defeat.
Shubman Gill starred for India in their famous 2020/21 Brisbane win
Shubman Gill entered the ongoing Brisbane Test with incredible memories of the venue from the 2020/21 tour.
Playing in his debut Test series, Gill enjoyed a series of starts in the previous two Tests before the Brisbane outing. However, he finally scored big with a sublime 91 off 146 deliveries in India's stunning run chase in the fourth innings.
With eight boundaries and two maximums, Gill helped India hunt down 328 on the final day to win the series 2-1.
Coming to the ongoing Brisbane Test, Gill's dismissal sparked an Indian top-order collapse as 6/2 soon turned into 44/4 before play was called off on a rain-marred day with India reeling at 51/4 in their first innings.