Veteran India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said that Shubman Gill is going to lose his place as an opener when Rohit Sharma will return to the team for the second Test against Bangladesh. While speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik added that Gill himself will be aware that he would have to make way for Sharma once he recovers from his injury as well.
However, he also believed that the youngster will soon establish himself as India’s regular opener across formats.
Karthik explained: “Shubman Gill will know that if Rohit Sharma comes back, he might not find a place in the team as an opener. But that’s the reality of Indian cricket. We have a lot of household names, and they are all part of the side as well. It’s only a matter of time before he gets a full-time gig as an opener in all formats.”
However, Shubman Gill smashed his maiden Test ton in the ongoing series opener against Bangladesh on Friday, December 16. He starred with the bat on Day 3, scoring 110 runs off 152 balls as well. However, Karthik again said that Gill’s father would be delighted with his son’s batting show.
He also applauded the youngster’s performance and praised him for countering the Bangladeshi spinners in great fashion.
Karthik added: “He [Shubman Gill] has shown the world how good he is. But a hundred in Test cricket has been eluding him for some time. He will heave a massive sigh of relief. Not only did he get the hundred… but the way he has batted, he makes batting against spin loss easy.”He is showing the credentials required to be a world-class opener. His dad will be really proud of him. I know his dad would not have been happy with his choice of shot in the first innings. He still went on to play a few sweeps, but not the lap sweep.”
“He has always been a very hard-working cricketer” – Dinesh Karthik
Meanwhile, Gill could lose his place in the team despite scoring a century if Rohit becomes fit for the second fixture as stand-in captain KL Rahul is likely to retain his place as an opener as well. Notably, Dinesh Karthik and Shubman Gill were a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team for a few seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Karthik, who led Gill at KKR, mentioned how proud he was to have him in his team. He applauded Gill, recalling how he did well as a finisher in his maiden season of the cash-rich league. He said:
“The first time he got selected in the IPL, I was proud to have him in my team. He batted in a tough spot at No. 7, which is difficult even for the most experienced players. But the young kid did a fabulous job. He was able to understand pressure and played some lovely innings.”
“He has always been a very hard-working cricketer. He enjoyed things off the field but when it came to his cricket and his workouts and recovery, he was on point. I really admire the hard work that he has put in. Among his peers, all were running at the same speed, but somehow, he has taken off a little further ahead than the others just with his work ethic,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.
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