Sanjay Manjrekar Confounded By Shubman Gill's 1st Innings Struggle Against Bangladesh: 'No Cricketing Reason For This'

Shubman Gill brings an interesting fact: since 2020, he has the highest average of any Indian Test cricketer in second innings scores. On the other hand, his aggregate Test career average is only 35, thus showing a weakness in the first innings. That was exactly what also occurred during the first Test against Bangladesh, as Gill recouped a first innings duck with the most impressive 119 in the second innings.

Sanjay Manjrekar On Shubman Gill's Performance In 1st Innings Against BAN

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar aired his puzzlement over this frequently repeating phenomenon in Gill's performance.

"I have no idea. I just cannot apply a cricketing reason to this," Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo on why Gill is not able to perform well in the first innings.

"His Test career went off the rails slightly. He started very well against Australia in Australia - got a 90. After that, he had a few opportunities against not-so-great oppositions in India and didn't quite cash in, didn't get the big scores, and then had the tough tours. South Africa is never easy and then came to India and failed in that Hyderabad Test," Manjrekar said.

IND Vs BAN, 1st Test

By the close of day three, Bangladesh were at 158/4, their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto on 51* and Shakib Al Hasan on 5*. After the Tea break, they resumed at 56/0, Shadman Islam (21) and Zakir Hasan (32) still there on both sides.

Early blow for India was given by Jasprit Bumrah, who sent Zakir back for 33 runs off 47 balls. But help came in this session from the form of Ravichandran Ashwin as he took rest three wickets with wickets of Shadman Islam (35), Mominul Haque (13), and Mushfiqur Rahim (13).

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India reached the second session of Day three at 205/3 without having a single wicket loss thanks to the solid batting from the batmen of Rishabh Pant at 82* and Shubman Gill at 86*. This gave India an important lead of 432 runs.

Gill played out the last innings superbly, unbeaten at 119 from 176 balls with 10 fours and four sixes, while Pant turned his innings into a century on returning to Test cricket.

Middle-order batsman KL Rahul played a fabulous all-rounder as he scored four boundaries during his unbeaten 22 runs off 19 balls.

India declared the first innings at 287 runs for the loss of four wickets, thus providing Bangladesh with a target of 515 runs to chase and still in the process of winning the first match of the series.

Shubman Gill Hits 5th Test Century

Shubman Gill got out early in the first innings but he made an exceptional comeback in the second innings. Gill became the 8th youngest batter to have achieved 5 Test centuries breaking Virat Kohli's record.

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Gill also became the second No.3 batter after Rahul Dravid to have scored a Test ton in his name at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.