File photo of Shubman Gill.© AFP
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has expressed concern over the form of young Indian batsman Shubman Gill in Test cricket. Pietersen, who masterminded India's last Test series win, urged head coach Rahul Dravid to take Gill under his wing. The 43-year-old acknowledged Gill's talent but believes the youngster still needs to work on his game. He made the comments after Gill played a rash shot to get out on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against England.
Citing his own experience with Gill, Pietersen provided valuable inputs to the Indian team management for Gill's development.
“Shubman Gill now has someone in the dressing room who has changed my game, Rahul Dravid. So I would say to Rahul Dravid and I don't know how much of the broadcast he watches: please go spend time with Gill and do the same things he did with me talked about. Make sure he hits the ball through offside. Practice, pick better links, rotate strikes, do things that will make him a better player because with Shubman Gill he has a quality player in his dressing room.” said Pietersen on Sports 18.
Pietersen feels Gills struggles to rotate the shot, especially against the spinners, something he can add to the game if Dravid takes him under his wing.
“And I'm not disappointed in the way he came out. I'm just disappointed in the fact that he doesn't have that skill yet, but he's still a kid. Give him that skill. Give him that structure, and play the attacking shots that he has in his armory. We've seen some of those nice innings, but as he rotates the attack and he learns from Rahul Dravid, who just needs to take him under his wing and say, young man, this is how you do it does, the world is at his feet,” he added.
Gill, resuming from his overnight score of 14, was caught at mid-wicket on 23 after playing a rash shot against the turn. He played 66 deliveries and hit only two boundaries
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