Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that Shubman Gill, despite his stellar form in recent Test matches, may have to wait for his opportunity and will not be included in the playing XI for the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, starting December 6.
India’s dominant performance against Australia
In the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma and their dependable No. 3 batter Gill, Team India delivered an impressive performance in the first Test in Perth. They secured a comprehensive 295-run victory over Australia, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were key figures in this success, forming 200-run opening partnership in during India’s second innings. This remarkable feat has provided the team management with a selection dilemma, as they now have to decide how best to integrate the returning Rohit and the in-form Gill into the lineup without disrupting the balance that contributed to their win.
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Harbhajan Singh’s take on the Shubman Gil’s selection puzzle
Discussing the team selection on Sports Today, Harbhajan shared his insights on the complex situation. He suggested that India cannot justify moving Gill to the No. 5 position, as he has primarily established himself as a top-order batter. This, according to Harbhajan, would not align with Gill’s strengths and could impact his performance negatively.
Harbhajan, while acknowledging the challenge of including Gill in the playing XI, suggested that Dhruv Jurel should still be given an opportunity. In the Perth Test, Jurel had a forgettable outing, scoring just 11 and 1 in his two innings, which did not allow him to make an impact. Despite this, Harbhajan advocated for Jurel’s inclusion for the second game.
“I guess Gill will have to wait for his chance. You took Jurel in for a match and when he didn’t make runs, you would make him sit outside. So you can’t play Gill from opening to No.5 as well. It’s a complicated situation and you do feel trapped. But it’s good only. I feel they will play Gill ahead of Jurel. But I feel Jurel should be played and given the chance,” Harbhajan said.
Gill’s performance in Tests this year has been impressive, averaging over 47 in 10 matches. His ability to play long innings and his composure at the crease have made him one of India’s most promising young batters. However, with a successful opening combination of Jaiswal and Rahul in place and a captain ready to return, the selectors face a difficult decision on how to best utilize the talents at their disposal.
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