Shubman Gill's away woes: Technical flaw or temperament problem?
Gill's international career, especially red-ball career, has not taken the ideal linear path since his debut in 2021. A blockbuster debut series in Australia was supposed to be the launching pad for better things, but three years later, it remains his claim to fame.
A huge reason behind his stuttering Test career is his questionable record outside the subcontinent. He is yet to record a red-ball fifty in such conditions after his Gabba heroics, with six single-digit scores in 17 innings. Overall, his away record reads, 683 runs in 26 innings at an average of 28.46.
On that note, let us take a look at what exactly is troubling Shubman Gill away from home.
#1 Oppositions have done their homework against Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, with his tall frame and high backlift, was tailor-made for bounce-friendly conditions, so it is a surprise that he has not fared well outside the subcontinent. Adept with both cut and pull shots, along with the ability to play and punch on top of the bounce, he showcased his ability in his maiden tour of Australia in 2021.
He looked at ease against Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood, as they hit the deck hard like they normally would against visiting batters.
Australia made amends this time around by going in a lot fuller, and taking advantage of the time Gill's bat takes to come down with such a high backlift. With the pace on the Australian surfaces, Gill has not been able to make the tweak so far, and has been consistently late on his strokes.
The same was the case during the South Africa tour, where the bowlers did not give him any room to free his arms to play square on the off side, and kept the line tight on the stumps, but not short enough to bring the pull shot into the picture.
The booming inswinger against Starc that got him castled in the pink ball Test at the Adelaide Oval, and the brain fade cover drive attempt at the Gabba - his last two dismissals show that both gaps in technique and a lack of temperament have played a role in his downfall.
#2 Shubman Gill has prioritized runs over balls
No matter what the technique or approach, players have to survive in Tests to benefit the team. Gill has never been viewed as someone who can spend long hours at the crease; perhaps in the subcontinent, but certainly not away.
This, in a way, comes across as a bigger worry than the chink in his armor mentioned earlier. Technical gaps are inevitable, and can be sorted out with time, much like Gill tried to play the ball closer to his body and eye-line, rather than reaching out, during the home Test series against New Zealand.
However, temperament is something that is ingrained and instilled and is becoming a fading art in the white-ball dominated scene. Considering his time outside the subcontinent after his Gabba heroics, the most deliveries Gill has faced in a Test innings is 64, which came during the WTC final in 2021.
Prioritizing playing out balls and keeping runs as secondary, at least in the initial phase, will be beneficial for Gill in the long run. Time in the middle will give him more confidence. Even if runs don't come after playing out plenty of balls, he has the ability and the strokes to score runs quickly once he is settled.
The fact that he has had many promising starts where he has looked in ominous touch, but failed to convert, suggests that the concern leans towards temperament a touch more than a technical flaw.
#3 Gill stuck in the middle at No.3
The currency for a No. 3 is balls over runs, and as mentioned above, Gill has been focusing on the wrong aspect all along. The majority has embraced the modern-day No. 3 gimmick, but India have ventured into this area blindfolded.
The growing trend encourages teams to have stroke players even at No.3. Some recent examples include Tristan Stubbs and Jacob Bethell for South Africa and England, respectively. Only time will tell whether this fad will be a norm in the future, but for the time being, with Test cricket still evolving, there is enough to suggest that there are more perks to having a traditional batter at No.3 over a flashy strokeplayer, at least in tough conditions.
Will Young recently showed what a stable player on an away tour brings to the table. Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid made the same case for India in the past. As much as the management and Rahul Dravid tried to push Gill to fit into the No.3 mould, with each passing innings, it is becoming apparent that he is not the right fit.
Gill has opened in the past, but not since 2023. His recent displays against the new ball, particularly away from home, have shown that a move back to the top might not be in store for him.
Playing in the middle-order, when the ball has aged, and the conditions and the bowlers have eased up seems a better fit for him, where he can freely play his game. This vacates the No. 3 space as well, where a traditional batter like KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, or someone like Ruturaj Gaikwad can slot in.