Shubman Gill is presently the focus of attention, albeit for unfavourable reasons. The Indian batsman showcased remarkable talent during his debut series in Australia in 2020-21; however, his performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 was disappointing. India suffered a 3-1 defeat in a series marked by numerous controversies.

In the recently concluded series against Australia, Gill's scores were 13, 20, 1, 28, and 31. It is noteworthy that he was not alone in his struggles, as even seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli faced difficulties.

Shubman Gill is a cricketer whose abilities may be perceived as exaggerated

Kris Srikkanth, a legendary figure in Indian cricket and a member of the 1986 World Cup-winning team, expressed his views on his YouTube channel, criticizing Shubman Gill as an "overrated cricketer." Known for his candid remarks, Srikkanth stated, "I have consistently argued that Shubman Gill is overrated, yet my perspective has largely gone unacknowledged. He is indeed a highly overrated player."

Srikkanth raised concerns regarding Gill's persistent inclusion in the playing XI, questioning the selectors about the lack of opportunities for players like Suryakumar Yadav. He conveyed a message to the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar, stating, "While Gill is afforded such extended chances, one might ponder whether players like Suryakumar Yadav could have also been granted a longer opportunity in Test matches."

He acknowledged that although Suryakumar did not have a strong start in Tests, he possesses the necessary technique and skill. However, Srikkanth lamented that the selectors and management have pigeonholed him as a white-ball specialist, indicating a need to explore new talent.

In addition to Suryakumar, Srikkanth recommended two other Indian batsmen for consideration in the Test squad. "For instance, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been excelling in first-class cricket, yet he has not been selected. Similarly, Sai Sudharsan has been performing exceptionally well in 'A' tours. It is essential to promote such talents instead of repeatedly selecting Gill," he remarked.

He further elaborated, "Gill is currently surviving due to receiving ten opportunities, managing to score only on the tenth attempt after nine failures. This pattern grants him yet another ten chances to prove himself. While anyone can accumulate runs on Indian pitches, the true test lies in performing away from home in SENA countries, where players like KL Rahul demonstrate their capabilities."

Gill was sidelined for the first Test due to injury, which India won, and even captain Rohit Sharma was absent from the match in Perth. However, upon their return, India's performance declined, culminating in Ravichandran Ashwin's unexpected announcement of retirement following the third Test amidst controversy.

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