Shubman Gill Accused Of Faking Injury By 1983 World Cup Winner Kris Srikkanth
Shubman Gill missed out due to injury in 1st Test (Source:@WisdenIndia/X.com)
Shubman Gill is one of the most highly rated youngsters in Indian cricket and has been touted as the next big thing. He is now an all-format batter for India and bats a crucial number 3 position in Test cricket. However, he missed the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru because of a stiff neck and India struggled big time in the first innings as they got bowled out for just 46 in tricky overcast conditions.
The ball was seaming and swinging at M. Chinnaswamy and Virat Kohli who batted at number 3 in his place, departed for a duck. It was reported that Gill was struggling with a stiff neck from 2-3 days before the game and the pain did not allow him to take part in the Test. However, former Indian opener and World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has accused Gill of faking an injury after seeing the spicy nature of the Bengaluru pitch.
Srikkanth was visibly disappointed with Gill missing the Test and India's performance in the first innings, but his comments were not taken seriously by the other member in his talk show and he just laughed it away.
India Make Strong Comeback After First Innings' Disaster
There is no clarity on what logic Srikkanth claimed that Gill is faking injury, but it is not likely to go well with Indian cricket fans. Also, the pitch is not that bad for batting and it got better on Day 3 and New Zealand piled up 402 runs. India have also made a strong comeback in their second innings with bat and cut down the deficit to 12 runs before rain stopped play on Day 4. Sarfaraz Khan is batting on 125 and Rishabh Pant on 53 and if the rain stays away, the game looks set for a thrilling finish.