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Even before Shubman Gill could play for India, he was hailed as the Prince from Punjab who was going to be the next Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. The potential of this young Punjab batter was so promising that he was an automatic choice for India in all formats and looked all set for a long innings. However, after the emergence of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill’s role has been in a flux across different formats.
In Tests, there was a genuine need to find a left-handed opening partner for Rohit Sharma, which led to Gill’s demotion. However, the move to drop him down the order in red ball has turned out to be disastrous as he doesn’t have an assured spot in the playing XI as seen in the Melbourne Test against Australia recently. Only a few months ago, Gill was named vice-captain in the side in place of Hardik Pandya and today he is nowhere in the T20 side.
Even there are talks about Jaiswal taking his opening slot in ODIs for the England series at home and in the Champions Trophy next month. It was the same Gill who would get his team’s backing after Ishan Kishan’s double century in ODIs. It was the same Gill who got a double hundred in ODI and sealed the fate of a senior pro like Shikhar Dhawan, who was eyeing a comeback in international cricket.
Where is that Gill today? Does he have an assured slot in any of the formats? The team management had actually gone out its way to make a special provision for Gill in the team and see that he gets a consistent batting position – whether it’s at the top of the order or elsewhere, and give him a fair run in that role. That would allow him to get back into his groove and make the most of his undoubted talent. But it is not Gill’s talent but that is being questioned, it is the temperament to score consistently that has put him in a fix.
Not that Gill isn’t trying to sort things out. He is doing all those right things like playing domestic cricket for Punjab, taking to some of the stalwarts of the game and even being in touch with the selectors to bring out the best version of himself. But somehow, time is running out for Gill. It’s only runs, runs and only runs that can save him. That is because most of the batters are out form and Gill is also a part of the club. He will stop getting those preferential treatment anymore if the runs don’t flow soon.
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