India faces a challenge in the absence of Virat Kohli for the opening Test against England, and Rahul Dravid, the head coach, has expressed confidence in Shubman Gill, who has been elevated to the No.3 batting position. The announcement came as Gill was honored as the Cricketer of the Year by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Gill, recognized as the fastest batter to surpass 2,000 runs in ODIs, had an outstanding performance for Team India last year, amassing 1584 runs at an impressive average of 63.36 in 29 matches, with five centuries.
Despite his success in limited-overs cricket, Gill has faced challenges in Test matches, accumulating only 304 runs in seven Tests for India. However, Dravid emphasized Gill’s talent and achievements, citing his remarkable century against Australia. The 22-year-old cricketer, known for scoring centuries across all formats, aims to prove his mettle in the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
Dravid acknowledged the demanding conditions on which young players, including Gill, have been playing. He highlighted the challenging wickets in various countries and emphasized that despite the initial struggles, Gill has the potential to excel. The head coach expressed confidence in Gill’s abilities and believes that, given time, the young cricketer will further establish himself in the longer format. Gill, known for his impressive performances in Australia, will be eager to contribute significantly to the team’s success in the absence of Kohli.
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