Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has opined on a technical deficiency in Shubman Gill’s game that led to his early dismissal in India’s first innings of the first Test against the West Indies. However, Gill managed only six runs before getting out to a Jomel Warrican delivery to Alick Athanaze at second slip. Despite his cheap dismissal, India ended Day 2 in Roseau on Thursday (July 13) at a comfortable 312/2, with a first-innings lead of 162 runs as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Shubman Gill came at No. 3. It is difficult and he will realize that. He has played the majority of his innings in first-class cricket as an opener. He came at No. 3 here after a huge partnership. He plays with slightly hard hands. If you remember the Indore dismissal, there also he went forward like this, Matthew Kuhnemann was the bowler and Smith held the catch. So his method of defending with hard hands, he will have to change it slightly as he plays more in Test matches.”
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However, Shubman Gill was given the No. 3 position in the ongoing Test as per his request. He came to bat after Rohit and Jaiswal had added together a 229-run opening-wicket stand but failed to contribute as well. Aakash Chopra also observed that Virat Kohli is looking comfortable in the middle as well.
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“Virat Kohli came after that. He is giving himself time. The opposition team is also looking extremely flat. They have used nine bowlers and didn’t take the second new ball until 100 overs. Virat Kohli is now looking good. He has not yet reached his fifty, so the small milestone is also left. India have gone far ahead. They are 162 runs ahead and are going slightly slow because the pitch is extremely slow. It is difficult to score runs quickly on this pitch but batting can be done, it is possible to stand here,” he concluded.
