File photo of Shubman Gill.© AFP
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has raised concerns over young India batter Shubman Gill‘s form in Test cricket. Pietersen, who masterminded England’s last Test series win in India, urged head coach Rahul Dravid to take Gill under his wing. The 43-year-old acknowledged Gill’s talent, but feels that the youngster still needs to work on his game. He made the comments after Gill played a rash shot to get out on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against England.
Citing his own experience with Gill, Pietersen gave valuable inputs to the Indian team management for Gill’s development.
“Shubman Gill has somebody in the dressing room now who changed my game, Rahul Dravid. So I would say to Rahul Dravid and I don’t know how much of the broadcast he watches, please go and spend time with Gill and do the same stuff that he talked to me about. Go and get him hitting the ball through the offside. Practicing, picking links better, rotating strikes, doing things that will make him a better player because he has a quality player in Shubman Gill in his dressing room,” Pietersen said on Sports 18.
Pietersen feels Gills struggles to rotate strike, especially against the spinners, something which he can add to the game if Dravid takes him under his wing.
“And I’m not disappointed in the way that he got out. I’m just disappointed in the fact that he hasn’t got that ability yet, but he’s still a kid. Give him that ability. Give him that structure, and play the attacking shots that he has got in his armoury. We’ve seen some of those beautiful innings, but if he rotates strike and he learns from Rahul Dravid, who needs to just take him under his wing and say, young man, this is how you do it, the world is his oyster,” he added.
Gill, who resumed from his overnight score of 14, got himself caught at mid-wicket on 23 after playing a rash shot against the turn. He played 66 deliveries and hit just two boundaries
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