India vs England Test | Gill has got cushion that Pujara didn't get, needs to come good in Vizag: Kumble

Former India captain Anil Kumble believes Shubman Gill needs to perform in the second Test against England or face immense pressure, highlighting the difference in treatment compared to Cheteshwar Pujara.

Former India captain Anil Kumble feels that the embattled Shubman Gill has been given the kind of “cushion” that veteran Cheteshwar Pujara never got and the young batter needs to make it count in the second Test against England or risk being under tremendous pressure.

24-year-old Gill has not scored a half-century in his last 11 Test innings. He scored a 128 in India’s first innings against visiting Australian in Ahmedabad in March 2023, but after that his highest score has been 36.

He made 23 and 0 in the two innings of the first Test against England in Hyderabad, which India lost by 28 runs on January 28.

“He [Gill] has been given the cushion perhaps even a Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t get, although he [Pujara] has played over a 100 Tests,” Kumble said on ‘JioCinema’.

“I keep coming back to him [Pujara] mainly because that was his place [No. 3] not too long ago. Pujara played in that World Test Championship final and post that, it’s been Shubman Gill, who’s been moving from the opener’s slot, and he himself wanted to bat at No. 3.” The 36-year-old Pujara last played a Test in June 2023 — the World Test Championship final against Australia — and he was ignored after that. He scored a double hundred (243 not out) in a Ranji match earlier this month. Skipper Rohit Sharma, before the start of the England series, stated that younger players were being preferred in a bid to look ahead in Indian cricket.

Kumble said the youngster needs to work on his mindset and also adjust his technique slightly for the second Test starting February 2.

“So, when you want to bat at No. 3 especially in India because you have that talent, you certainly need to work on your game. He has the skills, he is young and he’s learning, but he needs to do it in Vizag [in second Test], otherwise the pressure will be on him,” he observed.