Shubman Gill weak link at no. 3: Do India need a more solid option there?

Shubman Gill’s record at no. 3 position in home conditions is good but in away Tests he averages 19.83. Should India continue with him for upcoming Australia tour or call in Cheteshwar Pujara?

Shubman Gill started his Test career as an opener. But the rise of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal saw Gill being asked to bat at No 3 after veteran Cheteshwar Pujara, the regular No 3, was phased out due to his inconsistent form. But the question now is – Has Gill made the No 3 spot his own? Has Gill performed above expectations to keep someone like Pujara away from Test cricket despite the latter’s stellar show in Ranji Trophy?

First, here is a look at how Gill has performed at No 3. 

Inability to convert starts into big knocks 

Except for the one Test he played at home against New Zealand, Gill has performed well at No 3 in home Tests, averaging above 50 against England and Bangladesh. However, a look at his scores shows that he only has five scores of 50 or more in 23 innings at No 3. In 18 innings, he has scored less than 50. In those 18 innings, he has got starts of 20 or more runs 10 times.  

This implies that Gill has spent time in the middle to get the starts, but has lost his wicket more than half the times he got into the 20s. A No 3 batter, who is not able to build on the starts, puts a heavy burden on the middle-order. He puts additional pressure on the batters to follow of not only anchoring the innings but also getting the runs at a brisk pace to keep the momentum going. 

Also, a No 3 is expected to drop anchor and play long innings so that the batters to follow can play around him to give the team a good winning total. A look at Gill’s three tons at No 3 reads 104, 110, and 119*. In comparison, India’s past No 3 batters, such as Pujara and Rahul Dravid, had often ensured they piled up daddy hundreds to put India in winning positions or bat as long as possible to hold one end up. Gill has faltered to deceive in both these respects, and does not do justice to a No 3 batter’s responsibilities. 

Read More: Shubman Gill: The permanent no. 3 in Tests or do India need to keep options open?

Overseas record: cause of concern

A look at his No 3 records in overseas Tests posts an even dismal figure where he averages a mere 19.83 in 4 Tests. This does not inspire confidence especially when Gill will take guard at No 3 Down Under in a few weeks.

However, it is still early days for Shubman Gill at No 3 who has played just 13 Tests at this position. It is to recall that Gill has mostly played as an opener through his cricketing career till he took up the job at No 3. Gill is still learning on the job as a No 3 batter and might perform better in the position if given a longer run. He is a good player of spin and pace and the six Tests remaining in the current World Test Championship cycle would dictate how his Test career goes on at this position.

Pujara waiting in the wings

Cheteshwar Pujara served at No 3 with distinction, but inconsistencies plagued his career, especially in overseas conditions. Also, he was in the wrong side of the 30s. India had to make a transition and phase him out along with Ajinkya Rahane. 

But Pujara has got back to domestic cricket, and has been scoring runs to get back in the reckoning. He was the third highest run-getter in the 2023-24 Ranji season where he aggregated 829 runs at an average of 69.08, with three tons and two fifties in eight matches. In the ongoing Ranji season, he made 234 in his last innings against Chhattisgarh a few weeks ago. 

Hence, Pujara as a batter is not finished, and could be an asset if he is given another chance in the Test team, especially in home conditions where India batters were exposed in the series loss to New Zealand. Pujara was missed in the Bengaluru Test. He would have been vital in countering the swing and seam. He could have played a key role against the spin onslaught in the Pune Test as well. But it is still to be seen if the selectors take a step back and go to Pujara or look at the future in Gill despite the mixed results.

Read More: Pujara is India’s leading run-scorer in Tests against Australia since 2017: BGT 2024-25 calling?