To integrate Yashasvi Jaiswal into the Test squad, captain Rohit Sharma recently transitioned Shubman Gill to the No. 3 position. This move was discussed between Gill and coach Rahul Dravid prior to their trip to the West Indies. While the young Jaiswal has looked completely at home in the longest format, Gill has struggled to justify his place at the top of the order.
Not long ago, Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s arrival in the Test squad by moving Shubman Gill to the No.3 batting position. Rohit’s former Test opening partner spoke with head coach Rahul Dravid about his new responsibilities ahead of the West Indies tour. While youthful Jaiswal has adapted to Test cricket like a fish to water, Gill has struggled to meet his expectations as a No.3 batter in the longest format.
Gill's difficulties persisted in the first Test match against England, where he struggled to find his rhythm. He put up a meager 23 runs off 66 balls in the first outing and failed to score a single run in the second innings. At 24 years old, his career average in 39 Test innings now sits under 30. After India suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Ben Stokes' team on Sunday, the legendary Anil Kumble spoke out about Gill's decline in performance.
According to Kumble, Gill needs to loosen up and focus on getting back on the scoreboard. He emphasized that Gill must develop a better strategy for facing spin, as his current rigid hand technique is only effective on fast pitches where the ball comes onto the bat. When the surface is slow and the ball is turning, Kumble argues that Gill needs more control and a softer touch to check his shots.
Kumble noted that Gill cannot rely on a single approach for every situation and needs to diversify his game. While technical skills are hard to overhaul just days before a match, Kumble believes the real battle is mental—a challenge he feels Gill is well-equipped to handle under the guidance of the current coach. With Cheteshwar Pujara out of the picture and Virat Kohli expected back for the third Test, the spin legend stressed that Gill is now under pressure to prove his worth in the next clash with England.
Kumble concluded by stating that Gill has been afforded a safety net that perhaps even Pujara lacked. Despite Pujara's long tenure and 100+ Tests, he was eventually moved aside. Gill has moved from opening to No. 3 because that was his preference, but Kumble warns that batting at that crucial position—especially in Indian conditions—requires a much higher level of technical refinement given the talent involved.