Shubman Gill failed to take India home against NZ [Source: PTI]
Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim tore into Shubman Gill after the latter had a lapse of judgement against New Zealand in the decisive innings of the Wankhede Test. Chasing 147 runs and arriving to the crease following the dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma, Gill was knocked over by Ajaz Patel in just the fourth over of the innings.
The dashing middle-order batter had conquered New Zealand spinners earlier in the match by punching out a fighting 90 in the first Indian innings. However, his failure in the second innings became part of a larger Indian collapse as Rohit Sharma and co. crashed to a 0-3 series defeat to New Zealand at home.
Karim slams Shubman Gill for ‘mistake in judgement’
While speaking on Colors Cineplex, former Indian cricketer Saba Karim described Shubman Gill’s dismissal to Ajaz Patel on Day 3 as a ‘massive error of judgement’ on part of the number three Indian batter. Karim is of the opinion that Gill should have placed his bat in the line and should not have expected the ball to turn.
The cricket expert further stated that Gill could have defended the ball instead, and his dismissal came as a surprise considering the youngster had unfurled the innings of the match earlier on Day 2 with 90 fighting runs for India. He said:
“It was a massive error of judgment. Considering the improvement that was seen in the first innings, it was being expected that he would easily judge this kind of line or ball. We have repeatedly been saying that on a spinning track, your first job is to get the bat in the line of the first line, which he didn't do.”
“You shouldn't expect turn at all. He would have defended the ball easily had he brought the bat in the line of the ball. That's why it was a huge mistake in judgment from Shubman, which was unexpected. He had shown improvement in the first innings and that's why there were a lot of expectations.”
Shubman Gill spent the entire New Zealand series by notching just one half-century throughout six innings, scoring 189 runs in all at an average of 31.50.
The 25-year-old will soon be taking flight alongside the rest of his Indian teammates for the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia.