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Shubman Gill has highlighted India’s batting depth concerns, stressing the top order’s need to take more responsibility due to the lower order’s lack of contribution.
Shubman Gill gestures to a teammate on day five of the first Test England and India at Headingley (Picture credit: AP)
India Test skipper Shubman Gill has said that the batting depth of the team has been discussed for a long time now, since the tail isn’t as capable of contributing with the bat and in such situations, the top order will have to be a bit more responsible and not get out when they are well set on the crease.
Gill acknowledged the problems with the team, saying that it was true that the Indian tail doesn’t contribute the runs that the lower order of other sides do in Tests.
Gill added that they recognised the problem and needed to compensate for those runs in the top order itself, instead of complaining about their problems with the tail.
“It’s been one of the things that we always talk about, especially with our batting depth, that our lower order sometimes isn’t able to contribute as much as the other teams. But having said that, you can also look at the other side as well,” Gill said while speaking at the pre-match press conference.
“I was batting on 147, and the way I got out, maybe I could have scored 50 more runs in partnership with Rishabh [Pant]. If you get a good ball and you get out, that’s fine,” Gill added.
“But once you are set and you don’t have that much depth in your batting order, maybe the top order could take a little bit more responsibility and bat completely out of the game,” Gill said.
The Indian side is expected to make some crucial changes to their lineup for the second Test.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to replace Shardul Thakur, having been brilliant in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, scoring crucial runs in almost every Test.
Nitish’s inclusion will give India that additional cushion that they are looking for in their lower order.
India will need to shed their conservative selection approach and give themselves the best opportunity to take 20 wickets on what is expected to be another batting pitch in the second Test against England.
By the team management’s admission, India missed a specialist bowler at Leeds, Kuldeep Yadav to be specific, as England chased down a record 371 on day five of a match that the visitors should have won.
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