Shubman Gill Was Given Ultimatum To Deliver In 2nd Test

Shubman Gill revitalized his India career by scoring a captivating century against England on Day 3 of the 2nd Test in Visakhapatnam. Batting at No. 3, he ended an 11-month hiatus with his impressive knock of 104, playing a vital role in India's second innings total of 255. This set a challenging 399-run target for England.

1⃣0⃣4⃣ Runs
1⃣4⃣7⃣ Balls
1⃣1⃣ Fours
2⃣ Sixes
That was one fine knock from Shubman Gill! 👏 👏
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— BCCI (@BCCI) February 4, 2024

Interestingly, the Vizag Test was crucial for Gill as it represented his last opportunity to prove himself. Another failure would have led to his exclusion from the squad. Gill's Test career was hanging by a thread before the 3rd Test, with just two innings remaining to determine whether he would continue with the Indian team or return to play Ranji Trophy for Punjab.

Also Read: AB De Villiers Reveals Reason Why Virat Kohli Opted Out Of Tests

Surprising as it may seem, Shubman Gill faced an ultimatum before the Vizag Test. As per media reports, Gill was given a perform-or-perish directive. Despite being touted as India's emerging batting superstar, Gill had been grappling with a dip in form since recovering from dengue. The first half of 2023 had been promising for Gill, with numerous centuries and winning the IPL 2023 Orange Cap. However, as the year progressed, his form declined, jeopardizing his position in the Test XI. In response to this, the team management demoted Gill to No. 3 and elevated the young Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opener.

In the recent months, Shubman Gill faced a series of challenges in Test cricket, and his disappointing performance is evident in the underwhelming figures of 153 runs from 9 innings. His most recent century in Tests dates back to March 2023 when he scored 128 against Australia in Ahmedabad, marking the second century of his career. The stakes were high for Gill during the Vizag Test – had he not delivered, he was at risk of being dropped from the squad and participating in Punjab's Ranji Trophy game against Gujarat scheduled to begin on February 9.

Also Read: IND Vs ENG: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jasprit Bumrah Put India On Top On Day 2