“He has been given the cushion perhaps even a Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t get”, says Anil Kumble amidst Shubman Gill lean patch in Test Cricket.

In the recent Test series against England in Hyderabad, Team India’s top-order batsman Shubman Gill faced another setback in his red-ball cricket journey. Despite starting decently in India’s first innings with 23 runs batting at No. 3, Gill couldn’t convert it into a substantial score and endured a two-ball duck in the second innings.

Anil Kumble, former India head coach and renowned spinner, has remarked on Gill’s prolonged struggle, suggesting that despite his underwhelming performances, he’s been given more opportunities than even established Test players like Cheteshwar Pujara.

Kumble said “He (Gill) has been given the cushion perhaps even a Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t get. Although he [Pujara] has played over a 100 Tests, I keep coming back to him mainly because that was his place not too long ago.

Pujara played in that World Test Championship final and post that, it’s been Shubman Gill, who’s been moving from the opener’s slot, and he himself wanted to bat at No.3.”

Gill’s Test batting average stands at 29.52, accumulating 1,063 runs across 21 matches, with his performance at No. 3 position averaging a modest 21.00.