India top order batters had a poor outing against Pakistan in their opening encounter of the Asia Cup 2023. India were reduced to 66/4 in 15 overs after which Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan rescued the side with a tremendous 138-run partnership.
All three India top order batters – Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill were bowled out by Pakistan pacers. Gill’s dismissal caught the eyes of many as the batter could not get going at all despite playing over 30 balls in the match. Shubman was dismissed by a Haris Rauf delivery, that seamed in – took the inside edge of his bat and crashed into the stumps.
Former India cricketers, Gautam Gambhir and Irfan Pathan were not happy with the batter’s technique and spotted a big error. Gambhir criticised Shubman’s approach and said that he did not need to play differently from his natural game.
“It is a technical flaw but I believe he tried to play differently from his natural game because a lot of wickets had fallen from the other end. Rohit Sharma lost his wicket, then Virat Kohli lost his wicket and after that, Shreyas Iyer also got out,” said Gautam Gambhir on Star Sports.
“So he was trying to build a partnership. It was a good ball as well but if you play while leaving such a big gap between bat and pad, a quality bowler will expose you. It’s extremely necessary for Shubman Gill to work on this,” he further added.
Asia Cup 2023, IND vs PAK: Match Report
Irfan Pathan on the other hand said that Gill needs to better his head position while playing a shot, or else he will always run the risk of getting bowled out by pacers.
“That is why I have been repeatedly saying that he (Gill) is not covering the line with his front foot. When you don’t do that, if the fuller-length balls, which Haris Rauf bowled, move even a little after pitching, you will have difficulties,” Irfan Pathan said while speaking on the same panel.
“You have to either commit with your feet or through your head position. We didn’t see either of those things even when he was playing well and leaving deliveries. So that is a small thing that he can work on,” he concluded on the matter.
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