BGT 2024-25: "Strange selection" Sanjay Manjrekar opines on Shubman Gill's "harsh" dropping for MCG test

Shubman Gill was replaced by Washington Sundar for the MCG test.

India made an interesting call by dropping Shubman Gill for the fourth BGT 2024-25 test and replacing the batsman with off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar. Former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar labelled this selection call as “strange”.

The Boxing Day test began with Australian captain Pat Cummins electing to bat first after winning the toss. Australia had already confirmed their playing XI: Sam Konstas and Scott Boland replaced Nathan McSweeney.

India kept their cards close to their chest and revealed it only at the toss. Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, announced that Sundar will replace Gill in the XI and he will slot back at the top of the order, which means KL Rahul, who is India’s highest scorer in the series so far and has done well at the top, will be pushed to No. 3.

Dropping Shubman Gill “harsh,” says Sanjay Manjrekar

Gill missed the first test in Perth due to a thumb injury. In Adelaide, while India got bowled out for 180 and 175, Gill recorded scores of 31 and 28. He got starts in both innings but failed to convert it into a big score. In Brisbane, he was out for one run in his only innings.

Manjrekar took to Twitter to opine that Sundar’s inclusion for Gill is “strange” as since the MCG is a pace-friendly pitch, Sundar doesn’t strengthen the bowling nor batting. He called Gill’s axing as “harsh”.

“Strange selection of the playing XI. On a non-turning pitch, the change made neither strengthens the bowling much nor the batting. Gill dropped, is harsh!” Manjrekar tweeted.

Strange selection of the playing XI. On a non-turning pitch, the change made neither strengthens the bowling much nor the batting. Gill dropped, is harsh! #INDvsAUS

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 25, 2024

Australia Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

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