Cricket expert Harsha Bhogle explains why team India might have backed incumbent opener, Prithvi Shaw, over Shubman Gill for the first Test against Australia at Adelaide. Prithvi Shaw has been in a horrible form of late, especially in the recently-concluded IPL 2020 season. He also failed to perform in the practice games as he could only notch up the highest score of 40.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill played a couple of impressive knocks of 43 and 65 in the practice games. While many believe he should have been India’s opener alongside Mayank Agarwal, especially in the absence of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team management has backed Shaw to come good against Australia. Harsha Bhogle took to Twitter to express his opinion.
I think on the issue of Shaw vs Gill, they have chosen to give the incumbent the opportunity to prove himself. These are marginal decisions where the team management chooses to show faith in a player. I see Gill playing in the middle order soon unless the opener’s slot opens up
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 16, 2020
“I think on the issue of Shaw vs Gill, they have chosen to give the incumbent the opportunity to prove himself. These are marginal decisions where the team management chooses to show faith in a player. I see Gill playing in the middle order soon unless the opener’s slot opens up,” Harsha Bhogle tweeted.
India announce their playing XI for the Adelaide Test against Australia
Team India have announced for their first Test against Australia at Adelaide. While Prithvi Shaw is a surprise pick ahead of Shubman Gill, other players like Wriddhiman Saha and Umesh Yadav will also get a chance to prove their worth. Saha scored a fighting half-century in the second innings of the first-practice game. However, in the pink-ball practice game, Rishabh Pant scored a blistering hundred and seemed to have booked his place in India’s XI for the Adelaide Test. However, Saha gets the nod ahead of him. Umesh Yadav will also be itching to prove his worth after a good first practice game where he picked up three wickets. He will be replacing an injured Ishant Sharma because he is a very experienced campaigner.
