Dinesh Karthik feels Shubman Gill’s Test spot is in danger if fails to perform in next Test.

The Indian cricket team’s recent challenges in the first Test against South Africa have prompted seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik to raise questions about Shubman Gill’s position in the squad. Karthik has suggested that Gill may soon face competition from domestic talents such as Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar.

Following Virat Kohli’s resignation as India’s Test captain, the team has encountered difficulties in securing victories in the SENA countries, raising concerns about their overall performance. While acknowledging areas that need improvement, Karthik specifically focuses on Gill’s contributions to the team, emphasizing the necessity for enhanced performance.

Gill’s scores of 2 and 26 in the Centurion Test, where India suffered a defeat by an innings and 32 runs, fell short of both fan and expert expectations. Despite reasonable performances by KL Rahul and Virat Kohli with the bat, Gill struggled to leave a significant impact on the game.

Dinesh Karthik openly acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding Gill’s position in the team saying “Shubman Gill is a major concern. He hasn’t met people’s expectations. I believe even he knows that averaging in the mid-30s or early-30s after 20 Tests is quite fortunate. If he doesn’t perform well in the next Test, his position will certainly be in question.” 

Regarding potential replacements, Karthik suggests that Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar, who have demonstrated considerable success in domestic cricket, could soon earn their opportunities at the international level.

“The sole absent middle-order option is Sarfaraz Khan. I am confident he will join the squad sooner than he anticipates. Currently, no other names are being discussed for the middle order. Rajat Patidar is another compelling choice that I believe they will consider very soon.”