January 8, 2025

‘Shubman Gill Is Overrated’: Srikkanth Critiques India’s No. 3, Proposes 3 Potential Replacements

Gill featured in three Tests during India’s recently concluded five-match series against Australia but managed to score only 93 runs across five innings.

Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth, who previously captained the national team and served as chief selector, criticized Shubman Gill for his underwhelming performance in the recently concluded five-match Test series between India and Australia. Gill, who made his Test debut during the 2020 Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was deployed as a No. 3 batter in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, he managed to score only 93 runs across three matches.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth, the Player of the Series in the 1985-87 India-Australia Test series, labeled Gill an overrated cricketer.

“I’ve always maintained that Shubman Gill is an overrated cricketer, but nobody listened to me. He is a highly overrated cricketer,” he said.

A member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad, Kris Srikkanth, questioned the inclusion of 25-year-old right-handed batter Shubman Gill in the playing XI. He also raised concerns about why Gill continues to receive extended opportunities despite his inconsistent performances.

“When Gill is getting this much of a long rope, some people might wonder whether even players like Suryakumar Yadav could have been given a longer rope in Tests,” he said.

“Suryakumar didn’t have a very good start in Tests, but he has the technique, and he has the ability. But the selectors and the management have now boxed him into a white-ball specialist. So that means you have to look at fresh talent,” he added.

Srikkanth suggested that players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan, who have been performing consistently in first-class cricket, deserve opportunities in the national team and should be prioritized for promotion.

“Ruturaj Gaikwad, for example, has been doing wonderfully in first-class cricket. But they’ve not bothered to pick him. Meanwhile, someone like Sai Sudharsan has been lighting it up in ‘A’ tours. You have to promote these kinds of talents. Instead they are running around in circles by picking Gill.”

“Gill is right now surviving because he gets ten chances and scores on the tenth chance after nine failures. And because of that, he is getting another ten chances to succeed. Anyone and everyone can amass runs on Indian wickets. The challenge is scoring away from home in SENA countries, and that’s where players like KL Rahul pass the test,” he added.

See also: Stats: Bumrah Shines for India as Australia Complete Historic Trophy Sweep