“Should have continued to open,” Shubman Gill’s father DISAGREES with son’s decision to bat at No.3 position in Tests

Gill used to open in Tests, but he approached the management to change his batting position to No. 3, and so Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma now open India's innings.

“Should have continued to open,” Shubman Gill’s father DISAGREES with son’s decision to bat at No.3 position in Tests

Shubman Gill (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

India youngster Shubman Gill notched up his second century of the Test series against England with a slog sweep on Friday (March 8) at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. His father, Lakhwinder Singh, was watching him from the stands and applauded when the cricketer reached the three-figure mark.

Gill used to open in Tests, but he approached the management to change his batting position to No. 3, and so Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma now open India’s innings. Before the second Test in Vizag, Gill had failed to reach his fifty in 12 innings, and that created pressure on him.

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Though Gill gave an answer to his critics after his fourth Test ton, his father, it seems, is unhappy with the 24-year-old’s decision to become the No. 3 batter. Lakhwinder said the middle-order batters feel the pressure when they keep watching the game from the dressing room. However, he also admitted that he doesn’t interfere with his son’s decisions, who is now a grown-up man.

He should have continued to open. I feel it is not right at all. When you sit in the dressing room for longer, the pressure increases. Number 3 is not opening, nor is it a middle-order spot. Plus his game is not like that. It suits the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, who has a defensive game.
Lakhwinder Singh told PTI
I don't interfere in his decisions. I just train with him. He is old enough to make his own decisions. I made decisions on his behalf only when he was a teenager.
He added

Shubman Gill scored 110 runs in the fifth Test

After bundling out England for 218 runs, India gave a decent start to their innings; and though Yashasvi Jaiswal could not convert his half-century to a hundred this time, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill ensured they kept the scoreboard running at a faster rate.

Shubman Gill
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Both of them scored their respective centuries but lost their wickets in the 62nd and 63rd overs. The 24-year-old Gill played 150 balls to score 110 runs with 12 boundaries and five sixes before English great James Anderson bowled him out.

India, meanwhile, won the fifth Test by an innings and 64 runs after they bundled out Ben Stokes and Co. for 195 runs.

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