Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen expressed strong criticism of India batter Shubman Gill after the youngster was dismissed for just 23 runs on Day 2 of the first Test against England. Pietersen specifically pointed out Gill’s struggles in rotating singles early in his innings, emphasizing that this difficulty is causing problems for the young batsman.
In an insightful revelation ahead of Day 3 in Hyderabad, Pietersen disclosed that he had a conversation with India’s head coach Rahul Dravid. Shedding light on their discussion, Pietersen shared that they revisited the positive options for batting in Indian conditions. The former England cricketer emphasized the importance of trusting one’s abilities and not getting overly influenced by the opposition.
“We discussed batting in India again. Just reacquainting what the positive options are, and also, you know, you sometimes get caught up in what the opposition is doing, and you sometimes forget about how good you are,” Kevin Pietersen remarked on Star Sports before Day 3.
ALSO READ: Michael Atherton Criticizes Generosity Of Indian Batsmen, Questions KL Rahul’s Conversion
Reflecting on his critical remarks about Gill and the praise for KL Rahul on the previous day, Pietersen highlighted the significance of understanding each player’s abilities. He appreciated the opportunity to converse with someone of Dravid’s stature, who has made significant contributions to Team India.
Shubman Gill, currently occupying the No. 3 position in the Test team, faced criticism for his tentative approach during his 66-ball innings, where he struggled to score runs and eventually got out for 23. Pietersen stressed the need for Gill to learn how to efficiently rotate strikes.
Adding to the scrutiny, India’s wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik suggested that Gill might be feeling the pressure about his Test career, realizing that a couple of failures could impact his standing.
“You can see pressure has gone to Shubman Gill. He knows if he fails a couple of times, his career, for the moment, could be on the line. So, you could see that reluctance,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
WATCH – Joe Root Takes Two In Two As Ravindra Jadeja Misses Century After Umpire Calls On DRS
Shubman Gill has faced a challenging phase, failing to register a half-century in nine innings since moving to the No. 3 position in the batting order. The critique from Pietersen and Karthik raises questions about the young batsman’s form and the pressures associated with his current role in the Test team.
