KL Rahul has emerged as India's most reliable batsman in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli contributing centuries. Nitish Reddy has been a notable discovery for India during this tour, while Jasprit Bumrah has undoubtedly been the standout performer for the team in the first three Tests against Australia. However, this represents only a small fraction of India's 15-member squad. A limited number of players have excelled, while others, including captain Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill, have struggled to make an impact.

Expectations were high for Gill, especially considering his impressive start to his Test career in Australia four years ago, where he scored a remarkable 91 at the Gabba during India's historic victory. After missing the Perth Test due to a fractured thumb, Gill returned to the Playing XI in Adelaide and Brisbane. Although he managed to score 31 and 28 with the pink ball, he failed to convert these starts into significant contributions. His dismissal for just 1 run at the Gabba, where India was bowled out for 260, marked another disappointing outing. With the series finely balanced, the margin for error is minimal.

Gill can take encouragement from Rohit Sharma's support for him. While the captain remains confident in the young player's potential, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has expressed some reservations regarding Gill's performance at the international level. Ponting highlighted a technical flaw that may be hindering Gill's success overseas.

"I enjoy watching him play. When he is in form, he appears as proficient as any player in world cricket. However, his statistics away from home are concerning," Ponting remarked during the ICC Review.

"I observed him in Adelaide, and it seemed as though he altered his technique excessively. When Scott Boland was bowling, he adjusted his guard, moved towards the off stump, and presented his front pad to Boland, which ultimately led to his dismissal by a full delivery."

How Shubman Gill can get better from here

Gill's initial innings of the series commenced with great potential. He struck five boundaries during his 51-ball innings before falling victim to a full and straight delivery from Scott Boland, who proved to be a challenging opponent for India. In his second innings, he quickly amassed 28 runs off just 30 balls before being dismissed by Mitchell Starc, again via a full-length delivery. It is evident that there are issues with Gill's technique.

"Ultimately, I believe he needs to have more confidence in himself and trust his defensive technique more while playing in Australia, while still finding ways to score runs efficiently," remarked Ponting, a three-time World Cup champion from Australia.

"I am confident that when he plays at home or when he has scored runs in various locations worldwide, he does so in an aggressive manner, often without the concern of getting out—his focus is solely on accumulating runs. If he approaches the game with that mindset and attitude, it could lead to a significant turnaround for him here in Melbourne."

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