Not long ago, Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s arrival in the Test squad by moving Shubman Gill to the No.3 batting position. Rohit’s former Test opening partner spoke with head coach Rahul Dravid about his new responsibilities ahead of the West Indies tour. While youthful Jaiswal has adapted to Test cricket like a fish to water, Gill has struggled to meet his expectations as a No.3 batter in the longest format.

Gill continued his low-scoring streak in the first Test against England. In the first inning, the top-order batter scored 23 runs off 66 balls. Gill was out for a duck in India’s second innings. In his 39 Test innings for India, the 24-year-old cricketer has an average of less than 30. After India’s devastating defeat to Ben Stokes-led men in the first Test on Sunday, legendary cricketer Anil Kumble commented on Gill’s recent form slump.

Gill needs to be a lot freer. He needs to score runs. He needs to come up with a plan of action to tackle spin because he has hard hands. It’s good for good surfaces where the ball is coming on nicely and the faster bowlers are bowling at you. But when the ball is turning, when it’s slow, you need to use your hands and control and check your shots, Kumble said.

That’s something he needs to work on. It can’t be one flow all the time. Yes, four days before the next Test, can you work on your skill? I think it’s all the mindset. You can certainly work on your mindset, and you have the best possible person as the coach to manage that for Gill, the former leg-spinner stated. With Cheteshwar Pujara not featuring in the Indian squad and star batter Virat Kohli set to return in the third Test, spin-bowling legend Kumble admitted that Gill would have to prove himself in the forthcoming match against England.

He has been given the cushion perhaps even Pujara didn’t get, because although Pujara has played over 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 Gill, who’s been moving from the opener’s slot, and he wanted to bat at No.3. So, when you want to bat at No.3 especially in India because you have that talent, you certainly need to work on your game, Kumble concluded.