Team India made one change to their playing XI for the ongoing Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. Top-order batter Shubman Gill was replaced by spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar for the Melbourne clash. Gill was seen practicing in the nets during the fourth match.
After being left out of the lineup, the 25-year-old batter appears determined to make a comeback. He worked intensively on his batting in the nets on Day 2 (Friday, December 27) of the Boxing Day Test.
Sports journalist Sahil Malhotra shared a photo of Gill in the nets, highlighting his practice sessions against pacer Harshit Rana, off-spinner Tanush Kotian, and side-arm throwdowns.
“Not surprised to see Shubman Gill in the nets during the Lunch interval. He is facing Harshit Rana, Tanush Kotian and lot of side-arm. He should have been in the Playing XI at MCG,” Malhotra wrote on X.
https://x.com/sahil_malhotra1/status/1872464053718949966?s=46
https://x.com/gillprince07/status/1872470119827603520?s=46
Shubman Gill was spotted training in the gym after being excluded from India’s playing XI in Melbourne. The batter had also missed the Test series opener due to a finger injury. Gill struggled to make an impact with the bat in the two Tests he featured in during this Australia tour, managing only 60 runs across three innings at an average of 20.
“Strange selection of the playing XI” – Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes India’s call to drop Shubman Gill for Boxing Day Test
Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Rohit Sharma’s management for dropping Shubman Gill in the Boxing Day Test, calling the decision to replace him with Washington Sundar on the MCG pitch illogical. He shared his views on X.
“Strange selection of the playing XI. On a non-turning pitch, the change made neither strengthens the bowling much nor the batting. Gill dropped, is harsh!”
https://x.com/sanjaymanjrekar/status/1872061605279891764?s=46
Australia opted to bat after winning the toss in Melbourne, with Steve Smith leading the charge by scoring 140 in his 34th Test century. The hosts posted 474 before being bowled out, while Jasprit Bumrah stood out for India with four wickets.
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