ENG vs IND "Pick bowlers who have..." Ravichandran Ashwin wants Shubman Gill to be bold for the Oval test, shares how they can win the match

Shubman Gill has 722 runs in four tests with four centuries to his name.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged India captain Shubman Gill to be bold with his decisions in choosing the playing XI for the fifth and final test against England to be played at the Oval from July 31.

Indian team management, consisting of Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, has been pushing to have longer batting depth, playing Washington Sundar at eight instead of having more bowling strength. This has come to bite them when Jasprit Bumrah has struggled and Mohammed Siraj has looked out of sorts.

Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja have done well, but they haven’t picked up wickets at pace to hurt England in the series. Ashwin urged Shubman Gill to make bold calls, stating firmly that “test matches are not won by batting depth; they are drawn by it.”

“What a fabulous hundred”—Ravichandran Ashwin lauds Shubman Gill’s batting

Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ashwin praised Gill’s maturity and tenacity with the bat, particularly when things become tough.

“What a fabulous hundred by Shubman Gill. He has once again proved himself. He did not have a great match as captain—the way he brought Washington Sundar late was a huge tactical mistake. But that happens. He is a young captain and will only learn by making mistakes, and I hope he learns faster.

“Gill kept all things aside and came out as a batter and played a leader’s knock. He scored at Birmingham, Headingley, and now here. We lost at Lord’s, and a lot of people raised questions about his batting. When everything was down, he walked out to the middle in complete control and batted beautifully,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Shubman Gill has so far scored 722 runs in four tests in the series and has hit four centuries with a best score of 269. He smashed twin centuries in the Edgbaston test as well and became only the third captain after Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar to score four centuries in a series.

“Pick bowlers who have the knack for taking wickets.” – Ravichandran Ashwin tells Shubman Gill

Despite India’s well-earned draw in Manchester, the series remains 2-1 in favour of England. Only a win at the Oval in the fifth test will give India the satisfaction of drawing the series and not losing their third test series in a row.

Ashwin urged Shubman Gill not to rely on batting only and asked him to pick bowlers who can pick wickets. The Oval ground pitch helps spinners, and Ashwin hinted that he wants Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI.

However, Ashwin emphasized that India’s tactical performance during the series had been “pretty ordinary” and that it’s time for decisive actions.

“Improve now, and please make that call. You can still lose after that decision, but make it. Pick bowlers who have the knack for taking wickets. That’s how you win tests,” Ashwin said.

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