India vs Australia 4th Test: The fourth match of the five-match Test series between India and Australia will be played in Melbourne, starting on 26 December. All eyes will be on Team India’s star, Shubman Gill, in this match. He has struggled to perform well in this series so far, with his bat not scoring many runs. As a result, he has faced criticism. Gill has scored 60 runs in 2 Test matches, with an average of 20.
Amidst the criticism, Shubman Gill has received valuable advice from former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Ponting believes that Gill has made several changes to his batting style, which have affected his ability to score runs on foreign tours. However, Ponting emphasized the importance of self-belief, stating that once Gill trusts himself, runs will start to flow.
Gill’s Struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Gill missed the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a thumb injury. In the second Test in Adelaide, although he got off to a good start, he was unable to convert it into a big innings. In the third Test in Brisbane, Gill was dismissed early in the first innings, while KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja scored half-centuries to help draw the match.
Ricky Ponting shares his thoughts on Shubman Gill’s struggles away from home in Test cricket.#BGT2024 #AUSvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/nDEb8GGD9V
— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) December 24, 2024
What Did Ricky Ponting Say?
Ponting shared his thoughts in the ICC review: “I like watching him play. When he’s batting well, he’s unmatched, but his performance abroad has been inconsistent.” Ponting observed significant changes in Gill’s technique during the second Test in Adelaide, which he believes contributed to his struggles. He recalled, “I saw him batting in Adelaide and felt that he had made too many changes. Scott Boland was bowling, and Gill put his front pad forward on a ball coming in off the off-stump. Boland bowled him out with a straight ball.”
What Should Shubman Gill Do to Improve?
Ponting advised that instead of making radical changes, Shubman Gill should focus on trusting his natural game and improving his batting technique. He emphasized that Gill needs to work on his defensive skills to succeed in Australia.
Ponting stated, “He will have to work a little more on his defensive technique so that he can score runs in Australia. He has been successful with an aggressive approach in his home country and around the world when he focuses on scoring runs and not worrying about getting out. He needs to come here with the same mindset.