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‘Averaged 22' - Pietersen Provides Interesting Logic To Back Shubman Gill In Test Cricket

image-ls4u19nd Shubman Gill (x.com)

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has come to the support of India's young batting sensation, Shubman Gill, amidst growing concerns over his recent struggles in Test cricket. Gill, who showed promise with a confident start in the second Test against England at Vizag, faced criticism for a poor shot that led to his downfall at 34 runs later in the first session on Day 1.

Pietersen, however, urged cricket fans to be patient with Gill, drawing a parallel with South African legend Jacques Kallis. The former England star highlighted that Kallis had an average of 22 in his first 10 Tests but went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

Pietersen emphasized the need to give Gill the time to rediscover his form, emphasizing the young player's potential as a "serious player."


“Kallis averaged 22 in his first 10 Tests and turned out to be arguably the greatest player to play the game. Give @ShubmanGill time to find it, please. He’s a serious player!” Kevin Pietersen wrote on his official ‘X’ handle.



Gill, once an opening batter, had expressed his willingness to bat at No.3, filling the shoes of the legendary Cheteshwar Pujara. However, the shift hasn't proven fruitful as Gill has struggled to find consistency both at home and away.

He has faced challenges in finding consistency, scoring a total of 233 runs in 11 innings without managing to surpass the 50-run mark. This dip in form was particularly evident in the ongoing five-match series against England, where he faced heavy criticism after scores of 23 and 0 in the first Test at Hyderabad.

Despite Gill's recent challenges, Pietersen's support comes at a crucial juncture, with the second Test witnessing India in a strong position at 336/6 on day 1, largely propelled by the heroics of Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young talent showcased an outstanding performance, scoring 179* runs off 257 balls with 17 fours and 5 sixes.