India vs Australia: ‘Prithvi Shaw was set up to fail, Shubman Gill should have played in Adelaide,’ reckons Tom Moody

India vs Australia: ‘Prithvi Shaw was set up to fail, Shubman Gill should have played in Adelaide,’ reckons Tom Moody

Prithvi Shaw, TOm Moody, Shubman Gill

Prithvi Shaw, TOm Moody, Shubman Gill
(From Left) Prithvi Shaw, TOm Moody, Shubman Gill

The Indian team management took a surprising decision after they picked an out-of-form Prithvi Shaw over Shubman Gill at the Adelaide Test. Moreover, Shaw failed to capitalize on the chances given to him as got out cheaply in both the innings. Moreover, the bowlers picked his technical flaw while facing the in-coming delivery against a pacer. 

Former Australian all-rounderTom Moody questioned the choice of dropping Gill to play Shaw in the pink-ball Test. Moody reckoned that Prithvi Shaw has several technical flaws which he needs to correct before playing in the longer format. 

“Prithvi Shaw is not the one that has failed here, the selectors have failed. He shouldn’t have gotten picked to begin with knowing that he’s coming into this Test series out of form and also with the technical flaws that have been exposed over a dozen balls. So to me, he was set up to fail in a way,” Moody told ESPNCricinfo.

Also Read | India vs Australia: Twitterati trolls Ravi Shastri after India bundle out for 36 in Adelaide

“For me, Shubman Gill should have been the person to play, to begin with. His technique is a lot more water-tight, and he’s shown that he’s got a wonderful temperament. I’m not saying that Prithvi Shaw is not going to make a good Test cricketer. He’s got a huge future in front of him. But at the moment it’s not so much his fault. I think the decision to play him was wrong.”

Tough call for selectors ahead of the second Test: Moody

Rohit sharma
Rohit Sharma likely to join the Indian squad before the third Test

Tom Moody said that it won’t be easy for the selectors now to drop Shaw after two failures. Moreover, with the arrival of Rohit Sharma in the third Test won’t be fair for Shubman Gill to play just one game.

“I don’t think the selectors have any other choice but to back him for Melbourne regardless of whether you think it’s going to be more of a tame wicket or whatever the case may be. But you cannot go and pick someone with conviction and suddenly on the back of two knocks, do a backflip and then withdraw him, given what the circumstances heading into the third and fourth Tests, by then Rohit Sharma is likely to return,” he said.

Also Read | India vs Australia: Twitter reacts as India suffer catastrophic loss in first Test