BGT 2024-25: India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar reveals why Shubman Gill isn't included in playing XI for Boxing Day test

Shubman Gill managed to score only one run in the third BGT 2024-25 test in Brisbane.

Young Indian batter Shubman Gill, who made his test debut on the Boxing Day at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2020 against Australia, was left out of the Indian playing XI for the fourth test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

Gill missed the opening game of the series in Perth due to a thumb injury before making his return in the day-night encounter in Adelaide. However, his comeback has been underwhelming, with scores of 31, 28, and 1 in three outings so far.

Gill appeared settled in Adelaide, but lost his wicket both times due to lapses in concentration. In Brisbane, he was dismissed early by a good delivery from Mitchell Starc.

Interestingly, the Indian management opted for three all-rounders – Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar for the Boxing Day test.. Sundar played in the first test in Perth, where he performed well with the bat in the second innings. However, he was later replaced by Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja for the second and third tests respectively.

Following the day’s play, where Australia finished at 311/6 in 86 overs, India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar cleared the air regarding Shubman Gill’s absence from the playing XI.

Abhishek Nayar explains why Shubman Gill is not included in India’s playing XI for the Boxing Day test

Speaking to the media after the end of the first day’s play, India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar explained the decision regarding Shubman Gill’s exclusion from the playing XI for the fourth test.

Nayak acknowledged that the choice to leave Gill out was based on the team’s requirements for the match.

He said, “Well I think a lot of the decisions when they are made, and the process of it being made, the communication is always there, transparency is there,“

Nayar also hinted that Rohit Sharma will open the innings for India and clarified that Shubman Gill has not been dropped, but rather has not found his place in the team for this match.

He continued, “Rohit will come up in the order and more likely than not he will open the innings for us. So I think that was the thought process and unfortunately for him [Gill], just how things panned out.“

“He had to miss out and sometimes I just feel for a young player in a position like that, a big day, he wants to make his mark, he understands it is a team’s requirement and it is unfortunate. I wouldn’t say that he has been dropped per se, it is just unfortunate that he couldn’t find his place in his team.“

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