India vs England Test Series : Can Shubhman Gill Find His Form Abroad?

“It’s Certainly not easy being Shubhman Gill at the moment as you are leading Indian team possibly the biggest pressure based job on the planet where every person have an opinion about you where they would come up for suggestions what Indian team players needs to all in every match”

He is not only leading Indian Test team at the age of 25 years old but the exciting talented youngster will bat at number 4 spot, in place of Virat Kohli who retired from longest format of the game, will add another pressure on Fazilka Born Youngster who will don the responsibility of scoring runs at number 4th place and contributing as a leader.

Before we decode the analogy what he needs to do in those English Conditions, how many runs he has scored so far in English Conditions to be shared below:

He has played six innings so far where he scored 88 runs in six innings with a batting average of 14.66 and strike rate being 55.69.

His scores in WTC Final held in England where he scored 28 and 8 runs respectively against New Zealand in Southampton in 2021 which India lost against Kiwis.

He scored 17 and 4 runs in both innings against England in Birmingham in 2022.

He scored 13 and 18 runs respectively against Australia in Oval in 2023 WTC Final

He would certainly look to change that going forward.

If you look at his overall Test Record against England he scored so far is shared in the below format:

Total Number of Matches played: 10

Total Innings Played: 18

Total Runs Scored: 592

Highest Score against England: 110

Batting Average against England: 37.00

Total Number of 100 scored: 2

Total Number of 50s scored: 3

Strike Rate: 58.96

Gill is a technically sound batter and looks pleasing on the eyes whenever he plays his cut, pull and over the top shots and once he is onswasong, he is probably the best batter to watch his game.

Gill have biggest shoes to fill as the man who batted for India at number 4 spot is an absolute batter where he scored runs at will across all conditions and ensured that he has an edge over ballers.

Kohli who toured 2014, had a dismal Performance where he struggled a lot by scoring 54 runs in 4 innings and most dismissal came outside the off stump against James Anderson.

Then comes Great Players, who knows not to replicate the same mistakes when you get another chance, where they didn’t replicate the old mistakes and come back stronger which he did where he scored 593 runs which include 2 centuries against England in 2017.

He made a mindset and technique shift outside the off stump where he made technical adjustments so that he can catch up the ball and play his shots brilliantly.

The best part about Kohli’s iconic 2017 series, where he didn’t let Anderson succeed as the latter failed to pick his wicket that in itself was victory for him.

Former India Player and Selector Dilip Vengsarkar said while talking to media outlets what is required technically as Number 4 batter in those English Conditions where he said ” I was batting at Number 3 before but when Vishy(GR Vishwnath Retired) I was asked to come down at Number 4th place. It was slightly better at Number 4 than number 3 because by that time I came into bat, the ball often got slightly better”

He scored two half century and two century at Number 4 spot, which helped India win the series against England in 1986.

“That was one of those series where I wasn’t getting cushions  of playing against the older ball as our top three batters were not in the best of the knick, I was batting pretty early in the game but confidence plays the key in those English conditions”

In one of the matches, Vengsarkar scored 102 not out to seal the series, he came out to bat at the score line read 9-2..

Vengsarkar did wonders as a batter before coming out to bat, in those English conditions in that series but Gill has struggled a lot in England so he need to start fresh with new tactical approach and batting mindset to score runs in those English Conditions.

“The one thing I would suggest Gill is that he should try to get his bat down a little straighter instead of it coming down from gully, like it is right now, The right forearm should touch his waist as he looks to play the ball That will allow him to play striaghter” said Vengsarkar.

However not to forget he would be doing dual job of captaincy and batting at number 4 spot and carrying the legacy of Virat Kohli won’t be easy thing to comprehend in those conditions where he struggled with willow to score runs.

The fact might be his inexperience which might play some sort of role but more he stayed at the crease things will substantially change in times to come.

Gill with the Kind of talent and shots in his arsenal certainly have an ability to score runs in those conditions all he need to do is back his natural game.

India is currently gearing up for Five Match Test Series which will start in Leeds on Jun 20th and the last match will conclude in the first week of August, India coming early in England and playing Intra Squad matches would have made them accustomed to play in those English conditions.

Team India if they can manage to beat England in their conditions , it would stamp authority on Gill as Leader and Captain and also winning series against England, is a perfect start India could ask for the new cycle of World Test Championships.

Gear up for India vs England Series on Star Sports and the same will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar app.

 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Q-1: Which Number Shubhmann Gill is suppose to bat for India in the Upcoming India vs England Series? 

Answer: Captain Gill will bat at number 4th spot in the Ongoing India vs England series renamed as Tendulkar-Anderson trophy. 

He would be carrying forward his legacy at number 4th spot replacing Kohli who retired from Test Cricket. 

Gill is an outstanding player and certainly have capacity to score runs in all spots in the game. 

Q-2: How many runs Gill scored so far in England?

Answer: Gill has played six innings in England which means 3 Test matches, where he scored 88 runs only at an average of 14.66 in those six innings at a strike rate of 55.69 which by his standard is not up to the mark. 

The other thing which we need to understand four innings came in high pressure based WTC Final in 2021 and 2023 where as opener considering the magnititude of the tournament is humungous and even he is slight young when it comes to his Test career. 

He need to adapt conditions and mature faster in the Ongoing series, as he would be expected to score loads of runs in the Upcoming India vs England Series. 

Q-3: What Captaincy shift and changes are expected from Gill in tough England Series? 

Answer: He needs to score bulk of runs, in those English conditions

He would be expected to manuever fast bowlers brilliantly in those conditions and tactically he need to keep communication as key where he could set what is expected out from him in the Upcoming series so that all the players are in line and understand their role brilliantly where they can stick to the plan and do well for India. 

Overall India needs to do well, against England they need to go under skin of English players who certainly have knack of winning games at their backyard where as batter you are expected to leave ball outside the off stumps, bat with tenacity and mental resilience to have an edge over ballers and as baller you will be expected to hit the deck hard and expect the surface do the rest with the subtle art of swing and seam make things difficult for opposition in Test Cricket.