‘Pressure of expectation is getting to him’ – Sunil Gavaskar on Shubman Gill’s poor run in recent times

‘Pressure of expectation is getting to him’ – Sunil Gavaskar on Shubman Gill’s poor run in recent times

Sunil Gavaskar and Shubman Gill

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar commented on Indian red-ball format opener Shubman Gill’s batting vows in recent times. He said that the pressure of growing expectations following a successful Test debut in Australia during the second match may be weighing the youngster down. 

Shubman Gill had a brilliant series against Australia where he amassed 291 runs with two fifties at an average of 51.80. However, the 21-year old had a torrid time during the home series against England where he could manage only 119 runs in four Tests.

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that things have changed for Gill after the success Down Under and he needs to adapt accordingly. 

“I think what I feel about Shubman Gill is that suddenly, the pressure of expectation is getting to him. Before this, it was different. He was just a young promising newcomer, but now with the performances in Australia, the expectation is that he is going to score, and maybe that pressure of expectation is weighing him down,” Sunil Gavaskar said while speaking with Star Sports.

‘Gill needs to relax, he’s just a 21-year-old kid: Gavaskar

Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill

The 71-year-old opined that Shubman Gill is just a 21-year-old kid, and needs to relax a bit. Gavaskar added that he must focus on his shots rather than trying anything different while batting in the middle.

“He just needs to relax. He is just a 21-year-old kid. There will be failures and he has to learn from those failures. He’s just got to open and play freely, without worrying about expectations.

“The runs will come if he plays his natural game. Trying to play across the line and trying to score off every delivery because of the pressure of expectation, he’s actually getting himself out,” Sunil Gavaskar asserted.

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