India’s renowned cricketer Shubman Gill was not included in the playing XI for the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The decision has sparked discussions among cricket experts and fans.

Team selection decision

India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nair, on Gill’s exclusion, said it was a strategic move taken to strengthen both the batting and bowling departments. Nair insisted that the decision was in the best interest of the team, allowing captain Rohit Sharma to return to his usual opening slot and including spin all-rounder Washington Sundar to add depth to the bowling attack.

Experts’ opinion

Former cricketers have expressed varying opinions on this selection choice:

Mark Waugh: The Australian cricket great was surprised by India’s decision to leave Gill out, especially considering his past performances.

Sanjay Manjrekar: The former Indian cricketer criticised the move, calling it “draconian” and suggesting it did not bring any significant improvement to the batting or bowling lineup.

Recent performances

Gill missed the first Test due to a finger injury but returned for the subsequent matches. He scored 31 and 28 in the day-night Test played in Adelaide and showed confidence at the crease. However, he was dismissed for a duck in Brisbane.

Conclusion

The team management sees Gill’s exclusion as a strategic decision, but there have been mixed reactions in the cricket community. The result of the current Test and Gill’s future contribution will further fuel the discussion on this selection strategy.

Debate erupts over Shubman Gill’s exclusion from fourth Test