Ravichandran Ashwin of Team India recently praised Shubman Gill for his consistent progress as a fielder in the recently concluded five-match Test series against England. Ashwin highlighted Gill’s position at short mid-wicket, which is known to be challenging, and noted the exemplary performances of players like Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina in that role in the past.
The experienced spinner indicated that although Gill initially faced challenges at Kohli’s fielding position, he showed notable improvement as the series advanced. In his recent YouTube video, Ashwin remarked:
“Short mid-wicket is Virat Kohli’s position. It is very difficult to replace him. Virat and (Suresh) Raina. (Shubman) Gill started off there in the first test, and he looked very uncomfortable. By the final Test, he got it (like Vijay says to Sivakarthikeyan). He also took a catch of (Ben) Duckett on covers. It shows that he wants to improve his game on a day-to-day basis, and he’s working on it.”
Ashwin also commended Gill’s batting performance throughout the series, acknowledging the pressure the top-order batsman faced. He added:
“I give extra praise to Shubman Gill because he has seen the ups and downs of the game. People discussed his position in the XI. He had a few technical issues of his own. He came past all that to become what he is today, like how gold is molten from flames and water. And for somebody who is bound to be the next superstar of Indian cricket, as people project, this is a very important journey for him. He has handled the pressure, and massive applause is for him.”
Shubman Gill emerged as the second-highest scorer in the Test series, accumulating 452 runs from nine innings at an impressive average of 56.5. The talented young player recorded two centuries and two half-centuries.
“Devdutt Padikkal developed into an exceptional player within a span of 8–10 months”- Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin also discussed how his former Rajasthan Royals (RR) teammate, Devdutt Padikkal, made a strong impression in his debut Test against England. The left-hander earned a spot in India’s playing XI for the final Test in Dharamsala, replacing Rajat Patidar.
He displayed remarkable composure in his maiden appearance, scoring 65 runs. Commenting on Padikkal’s significant progress in recent months, Ashwin remarked:
“Devdutt Padikkal had become an outstanding player over 8–10 months. I don’t know how to express it. I’ve seen him in the Rajasthan Royals for two years. But you never know when a player gets that sudden spurt between the ages of 20 and 25. I can tell that Devdutt Padikkal has gotten that spurt suddenly over the past 8 months. I’m seeing the way he is playing first-class cricket, the way he deals with everything, the maturity.”
India secured a comprehensive 4-1 Test series victory over England by defeating them at Dharamsala with an innings and 64 runs.
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