How will Shubman Gill justify his place in the Indian Test team?

Subramaniam Badrinath has sharply criticized Shubman Gill’s underwhelming performances in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, questioning his contribution to the Indian Test team. Gill, who has shown considerable promise in limited-overs formats, failed to leave a mark with the bat in the five-match series against Australia. The 25-year-old opener’s struggles, particularly against Australia’s potent bowling attack, have raised concerns about his place in India’s long-format plans. Badrinath expressed that Gill’s approach to his batting lacked the crucial intent and aggression needed in Test cricket, especially against high-quality opposition like Australia. The former India cricketer pointed out that, instead of playing with caution and attempting to wear down the bowlers, Gill seemed to lack the determination to spend valuable time at the crease.

Shubman Gill struggled miserably in the Border Gavaskar Trophy

Badrinath emphasized that one of the key traits for a successful Test opener is the ability to grind out long innings and frustrate the opposition, something Gill failed to do. While Gill has shown flashes of brilliance in limited-overs cricket, his recent struggles in the longest format have brought his role into focus. With India’s top-order woes becoming more pronounced, the pressure is mounting on Gill to improve his technique and temperament for the Test arena. Badrinath’s comments reflect the growing expectation for Gill to deliver consistently, particularly in the face of challenges like Australia’s well-rounded bowling attack.

"It is very difficult for me to see this. For that level, he has not lived up to expectations. You can get runs, you cannot, but there should have been intent and aggression. I wanted him to tire out the bowlers," former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath said in a recent interview. 

"I want you to make the ball old. Help your teammates and stand firm even if runs are not coming. Play 100 balls, tire the bowlers. This is what your team contribution [is supposed to be]. Labuschange and McSweeney did that in a couple of games. By playing out a lot of dot balls, they had actually made Bumrah injured," he added.

Shubman Gill’s performance in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 was a disappointing one, as he struggled to make an impact in the series against Australia. The 25-year-old missed the first Test in Perth due to a finger injury, which saw him sidelined for the opening match. After recovering, he played in the following two Tests but was dropped for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. In that game, India opted for a more unconventional lineup, choosing to go with three all-rounders—Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy—instead of Gill.

However, the Punjab batter was recalled for the final Test in Sydney, where he replaced Rohit Sharma in the playing XI. Despite the opportunity, Gill failed to capitalize, continuing his lean run with the bat. In the five innings he played across the series, he managed only 93 runs, averaging a low 18.60. This poor run of form has raised concerns about his consistency in the longest format, especially as India looks to rebuild their top-order ahead of upcoming international assignments.

"If this was Shubman Gill from Tamil Nadu, he would have been dropped," Badrinath noted. 

Badrinath also criticized Gill's fielding during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, suggesting that he wasn't performing at his best off the bat as well. The former cricketer pointed out that Gill was not positioned in key areas of the field, such as the slip cordon or at point, where he could have contributed more. Fielding in these crucial positions is vital, especially in high-pressure Test matches, and Badrinath felt that Gill’s absence from these positions highlighted a lack of involvement in the game. Given the demands of Test cricket, it's not just about runs but also about contributing to every aspect of the team, including fielding. Badrinath’s comments reflect his frustration over Gill's overall performance, both with the bat and in the field, urging the young batter to step up in all areas if he wishes to cement his place in India's Test lineup.

"You must not go there and say, oh, this is the way I play. I will stand and deliver. Four people will write about it. Whatever you can do, at that time, you try and do. In this series, I did not get it from Shubman. Even on the field, he was poor. He couldn't stay in slip and point. What does he contribute to the team?" Badrinath asked.