"Shubman Gill is exceptionally talented, he should remain at number 3": Anil Kumble

By Sandy Verma On Oct 16, 2024

New Delhi�: Former India captain Anil Kumble has backed Shubman Gill at the No. 3 spot in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kumble advised against moving Gill as the opening batsman, even if Rohit Sharma is not available for the first Test in Perth. Shubman Gill, who started as an opening batsman in Melbourne in 2020, has opened for India in 17 Tests before moving to the No. 3 position in 2023. The change came after India removed Cheteshwar Pujara, allowing Gill to bat lower down the order and giving Yashasvi Jaiswal a chance to open with Rohit Sharma. With Rohit likely to miss the first Test due to personal reasons, Kumble suggested that Yashasvi and KL Rahul should open. Speaking to GeoCinema, Kumble said, “You know he (Shubman) is exceptionally talented, He is skilled and has done that. He has been to Australia before. As you said, he scored a brilliant half-century in Brisbane and he knows the conditions.” “I don't want to change it. I know there is a temptation to move Shubman Gill because Rohit is not available in the first Test. But, KL Rahul has always been a name that is synonymous with change and adapting to what the team wants. Whether you want to open the batting or keep wickets, Rahul Dravid did it, now KL Rahul is doing it,” he said.

Kumble emphasized that Gill's batting style at No. 3 is different from the traditional methods of Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara. He believes that Gill's versatility will be the key to India's success in the series. “You said, for the last 25 years, there are only two players who are playing consistently and it is a tough role. I mean, both those batsmen, Rahul and Cheteshwar contributed a lot during that period, and you know that. You have to balance it. You may be batting the second ball of the Test match, or you may be batting much later when the conditions are easier,” Kumble said.

“But in most cases, you go there to control the first session and see the new ball because we know that after the first 25 hours, the best time to bat on the Kookaburra ball is from the 30th over to the 60th over,” he said. And that's what both these batsmen did throughout their careers, making sure that the number four, number five and number six batsmen came into the lineup much later so that they could bat comfortably and “So Shubman will have to play this role in a very special way. He may have to make some changes depending on the circumstances,” he said while talking to GeoCinema. Said. This five-Test series, starting in Perth on November 22, is the first time in more than 30 years that India and Australia will compete in such a comprehensive series.
(ANI)