Ashwin Goes Into Professor Mode to Dissect Gill's Batting Flaw
Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill faced sharp criticism from former captain Sunil Gavaskar. This criticism focused on Gill's technique against in-swinging deliveries. The conversation intensified when veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stepped in with a detailed technical breakdown.
The Dismissal That Sparked the Debate
During the third ODI against New Zealand in Indore, Gill was clean bowled by Kyle Jamieson. The delivery nipped back in sharply. Gill was playing on 23 runs off 18 balls at that moment. He pressed forward in defense, but the ball went past his inside edge. It clipped the top of his pads and crashed into the off-stump.
This dismissal caught everyone's attention. Gavaskar immediately pointed out technical flaws in Gill's batting approach. He compared Gill's current technique to his successful form in England.
Ashwin's Detailed Technical Analysis
Ashwin took to social media platform X to share his analysis. He went into what fans call "professor mode." Ashwin explained the challenges modern batters face when switching between red-ball and white-ball cricket.
He shared four pictures to illustrate his point. Each picture showed a different phase of Gill's batting stance against that delivery.
- Natural Receiving Position: Ashwin noted Gill picks up his bat from gully naturally. This comes from years of practice and training.
- Realignment: Gill sees the line of the delivery and re-aligns his bat. He gets into a superb position to meet the ball head-on.
- The Emerging Gap: Here, trouble begins. A gap starts to emerge between bat and pad. The ball has pitched and started to duck back in.
- Bottom Hand Issue: Ashwin pointed out the bottom hand remains firm. It should loosen up for last-minute adjustments. This firmness prevents Gill from shutting the gap.
Ashwin emphasized this is not a huge mistake. He called Gill a fabulous player. The issue often happens due to lack of awareness. Gill's natural habitat involves dominant use of his bottom hand, especially in white-ball cricket.
Gavaskar's Earlier Criticism
Before Ashwin's analysis, Gavaskar had expressed strong views. He recalled Gill's successful tour of England where he scored 754 runs. Gavaskar said Gill's bat and pad were as close as "a just married couple" during that series.
He described Gill's defense as impregnable at that time. His straight driving was crisp, comparable to Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli at their best.
Gavaskar criticized the advice given to Gill about changing his backlift for white-ball cricket. He called such suggestions "nonsense." He pointed out the visible gap between bat and ball in Gill's current technique.
The debate highlights how technical nuances in batting remain crucial. Even top players like Shubman Gill face scrutiny over minor adjustments. Experts like Ashwin and Gavaskar provide valuable insights into these aspects of the game.
