Rohit Sharma Sends A Stern Warning To Shubman Gill- India continued on their winning momentum from the Test series to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series by recording a 5-wicket win in the first ODI against West Indies in Barbados. It was quite a comfortable win for India – though 5 wickets down wouldn’t suggest that – setup by the bowlers, dismissing the hosts for a paltry score of 114 runs.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli demoted themselves to give an opportunity to others. Among the batters, only Ishan Kishan grabbed this opportunity. Sent to open the batting, the left-handed pocket dynamo blasted a fifty while other batters failed to grab their chances. Rohit came in at number 6 to complete the chase in 23 overs.
This is a series of giving opportunities to the fringe players and for the ones who are more assured of their places in the side to gain momentum in the ODI format in the leadup to the Asia Cup next month and the World Cup 2023.
One of these players is Shubman Gill. 23-year-old Shubman Gill has had a bumper time with the bat since last year in all formats, and many feel he is the player to open the innings alongside Rohit in the Asia Cup, and if he continues on the good touch, in the World Cup as well.
But Shubman Gill didn’t have a good outing in the first ODI, scoring only 7 runs, dismissed by Jayden Seales. And while one low score wouldn’t hurt Gill’s position as an opener, he must get a good knock on a tough pitch – many fans have pointed out his love affair on good batting surfaces in recent times – to boost his credentials.
Shubman Gill needs to score on difficult batting pitches
Captain Rohit Sharma asserted that the chances to the players won’t be too many because of the competition in the side, seemingly making an indirect warning to Shubman Gill.
“I don’t think they’ll get many chances like this,” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation. He added: “We wanted to give game time to the ODI guys who have come in, we will keep trying those things whenever possible. To restrict them to 115, we knew we could try these guys and give them a go.”
Suryakumar Yadav is another player whose position in the ODI side has come under scrutiny. SKY was sent at number 3. He started off brilliantly, getting a couple of cover drive boundaries and a swept four, plus his trademark pull shot over fine leg for a six. However, he got out, scoring only 19 runs to Motie’s spin.
Suryakumar now averages only 23 in 24 ODI matches and he need to put up a good performance in the coming matches as Shreyas Iyer is in line to return for Asia Cup.
