Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin offered an in depth technical explanation of Shubman Gill’s dismissal against Recent Zealand, shedding light on the finer elements of recent batting technique. Gill, who looked comfortable during his temporary stay on the crease, was dismissed for 23 by Kyle Jamieson in a vital ODI.
While the dismissal appeared routine at first glance, Ashwin stressed that such moments are sometimes the results of small technical nuances moderately than major flaws. He noted that Gill attempted to shut the gap between bat and pad, but execution at the ultimate moment proved decisive.
Gavaskar’s Criticism And Ashwin’s Response
Gill’s dismissal also sparked debate after former India captain Sunil Gavaskar openly criticised the young batter’s technique. Gavaskar felt Gill’s defensive alignment left him vulnerable, especially against taller fast bowlers extracting bounce. Responding to this, Ashwin said the problem was more subtle than it seemed. “It’s not about intent,” Ashwin explained, adding that Gill “desired to shut the gap between bat and pad” but couldn’t make the vital last-second correction.
In keeping with Ashwin, Gill’s bottom hand remained barely firm on the handle, stopping the bat from coming down flush. He emphasised that this can be a common challenge for batters who consistently switch between formats and scoring tempos.
Modern Batting Challenges In A Format-Heavy Era
Ashwin further contextualised Gill’s dismissal by pointing to the demands of recent cricket. With players juggling Tests, ODIs and T20s, minor adjustments can sometimes go mistaken under pressure. He highlighted that Gill’s technique is essentially sound but added that even elite batters can struggle when small movements don’t sync perfectly. Ashwin remarked that “these are nice margins” and insisted such dismissals shouldn’t be overanalysed.
Despite Gill’s early exit, India still fought hard, led by Virat Kohli’s magnificent century, though it wasn’t enough to forestall defeat. Ashwin concluded that Gill’s learning curve stays strong and moments like these are a part of growth on the international level, especially against quality fast bowling in difficult conditions.
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