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'Team Management Will...,' Irfan Pathan Makes Big Statement On Iyer & Gill's Test Future

image-ls5u5y4fShubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer celebrating a wicket (AP)

Amidst the speculation of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer facing the axe due to their recent struggles with the bat, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advocated for giving the duo a few more matches before making any decisions. 

Despite their current form concerns, Pathan believes the team management should stick with them, considering the absence of senior players like Virat Kohli and the injury to KL Rahul.

Gill, who has been batting at No. 3 since the West Indies Tests, has encountered a lean patch recently. The young batter another modest performance on Day 1 of the second Test against England, where he departed for 34 runs. 

Similarly, Iyer has struggled to make a significant impact, with scores of 35 and 13 in the last Test. Iyer's dismissal for 27 in the ongoing Test further adds to the concerns about his form.

Despite the duo's lackluster performances, Pathan emphasised the importance of experience in the team, especially in the absence of key players. He acknowledged that both Gill and Iyer have been inconsistent lately but suggested that their prior performances should not be discounted. 

"A senior player like Virat Kohli's absence is a massive factor. Over that KL Rahul is also injured. So the team management has plenty to think about. They need to think whether to give a chance to a new player straight away or wait a bit," Irfan Pathan said as quoted by PTI.


"There is no doubt that these two boys (Gill and Iyer) haven't performed for quite sometime now but it not that they have never performed. They might be now thinking of going with experience. Shreyas and Shubman have been there for quite sometime now and have experience, which comes into play in crunch situations. I feel the team management will back them because 2-3 experience players are not there in the team," the former Test specialist added.

As the Vizag Test progresses, the second innings for Gill and Iyer becomes crucial, providing them with an opportunity to silence critics with substantial scores. With the selectors set to announce the squad for the remaining three Tests after this match, the fate of Gill and Iyer in the playing XI remains uncertain. 

The decision will be closely watched, as the team management evaluates whether to persist with the struggling duo or explore other options for the crucial upcoming matches.