Tom Moody, former Australian all-rounder and coach, is impressed by Indian youngster Shubman Gill, believing the 21-year-old has got an Ajinkya Rahane like composure and approach and the way of beginning his Test career by playing at ease and comfort makes him a serious contender to play for the Indian team in future time to come.
Tom Moody’s comments come after Shubman Gill impressed in his debut Test. The 21-year-old showed maturity beyond his years by notching up 3rd highest score by a debutant in and against Australia at MCG.
Tom Moody (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Tom Moody: Shubman Gill Looked At Ease And Certainly Didn’t Look Like Playing First Test Match
Opener Shubman Gill scored 45 off 65 balls in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 35 in 2nd innings as he and captain Ajinkya Rahane saw India cross the hurdle by winning in Melbourne to level the series 1-1. Tom Moody was impressed by the youngster’s shoe as he looked comfortable in debut Test.
“Shubman Gill has got a Rahane-like understated approach in a way. He doesn’t look flustered and certainly he didn’t look like he was playing his first Test match,” Moody said on ESPNCricinfo.
“This is the beginning of his international career; he looked very much at ease and comfortable in that environment as if he’s been there a year or two already. It’s only going to look up for him, there’s no question about it.”
Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Google)
Tom Moody was impressed the most by seeing how Shubman Gill has aced the Test of an opener playing in Australian conditions especially after the Adelaide debacle where India registered lowest ever Test score of 36.
Shubman Gill Showed Authority As An Opener Facing Trio Of Australian Pacers
Prithvi Shaw’s low scores in Adelaide prompted India to replace him with Shubman Gill. The 21-year-old has played most of his domestic cricket for Punjab as an opener, so it was expected that he will embrace the role. However, the authority he’s shown in facing Australia’s fast-bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood doesn’t demonstrate someone playing his maiden Test match.
“Certainly, to cut your teeth as an opener in the early parts of your career is certainly only going to do him good than anything else even if he does end up and three or four, time will tell you that,” Moody said.
Mohammed Siraj. Image Credit: Getty Images.
India won the second Test by 8 wickets after Australia won the first Test by the same margin. The win is more creditable as India were without services of in form talismanic batsman regular skipper Virat Kohli and pacer Mohammed Shami who injured himself in 1st Test.
India made as many as 4 changes to their XI from the first Test after an embarrassing defeat with Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill included. Like the opener Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj too impressed in his debut picking 5 wickets. Ravindra Jadeja performed with bat and ball as India won to stage a remarkable comeback after 1st Test debacle.
