Shubman Gill’s Test Century and Controversy: Questions Raised About Opportunities Given in Indian Cricket Team

2024-02-05 09:57:00

Visakhapatnam: Jaiswal’s double century and above all Bumrah’s 6-wicket spell contributed greatly to India’s victory in the Visakhapatnam Test. Also, Shubman Gill’s century in the last 2nd innings also helped. This is Shubman Gill’s 3rd century in Test cricket. In fact, even if it is said that this century has given him a new life, the question arises how many players have been given such an opportunity?

Given to Mayank Agarwal? Awarded to Karun Nair’s triple century against England? Was it given to Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund etc.? Pujara, given to Rahane? Manish Pandey, given to Ambati Rayudu? Why… Raina or Yuvraj Singh were given such opportunities in Tests, if not at all.

What superstar player is Shubman Gill who has been given so many opportunities? Neither is it. It seems that there could be non-cricket reasons. Suspicions have arisen that the captain, coach and other lobbies in the team may have been given opportunities not available to other players. However, Gill used the lobby to his advantage.

Shubman Gill scored 153 runs in 9 innings before Visakhapatnam century. The highest score in this was 36. Despite being offered a chance, he remained in the Test team. Given so many chances no player should be surprised to score a century. Will they give a similar opportunity to a debutant? Why, if Jaiswal loses in the next 8-9 innings tomorrow, they will immediately lift him.

Rajat Patidar doubted if Sarbaraz Khan would be given the chance he gave to Shubman Gill even if he is included in the team tomorrow. It is likely that there is often truth to the claim that the player’s trade value i.e. brand value determines team selection. But Shubman Gill is said to have faced opposition from outside fans and calls from within the team to send him to domestic cricket.

So, not without pressure. But brand value is said to be more influential than pressure. But Shubman Gill also knows that once a place is lost, it is difficult to get back into the team. But, his innings yesterday was indeed full of luck. It must be said that he got the referee’s help. He got away with it once the review replay showed that the ball was lightly hit in the bat. In fact, he was surprised that he had been beaten. However, some technical experts believe that the speed of the ball as it crosses the bat depends on the nature of the wind and there are cases where the hot spot appears to have hit the bat.

But, once again, James Anderson bowled him LP. is plumb lb. is If the umpire gave out it was out, but the umpire did not give out. So the umpires were called and Gill escaped. The umpire who did not give out to Jack Crowley during England’s innings on the 4th day, the third umpire’s dismissal on Kuldeep’s ball and the field umpire’s dismissal on Bumrah’s ball to Jonny Bairstow, when the umpires’ call on the replay was marginal, raised serious doubts about neutrality.