Cheteshwar Pujara Offers Key Advice To Shubman Gill Ahead Of BGT 2024-25 Series

As Test cricket evolves, players are bringing their aggressive white-ball style into the red-ball game. With the Border Gavaskar Trophy series about to begin, Shubman Gill is in the spotlight. He impressed during the last tour of Australia and is expected to perform well again.

Cheteshwar Pujara, a Test specialist for India, has shared valuable advice with Shubman Gill ahead of the 2024/25 series. Although Pujara is not currently part of the Test team, his insights could be crucial for Gill's performance.

Pujara emphasised that Gill should play his natural game. He noted that Gill has already shown his capabilities in Australia and should continue playing with his instinctive style. However, he advised caution in shot selection due to Australia's unique pitch conditions.

"Shubman Gill has played in Australia, so he should play the way he naturally does. He has good strokes, but in Australian conditions, he needs to be cautious about the selection of shots," Pujara mentioned during a discussion with Star Sports. He also highlighted the importance of adapting stroke play to handle bouncy pitches effectively.

Pujara advised Gill to discern which deliveries to attack and which to leave when playing in Australia. Aggressive shots can be risky there and might lead to unnecessary dismissals.

Although Test cricket hasn't been Gill's strongest format, he is learning quickly and aims to excel in the upcoming series. So far, he has accumulated 1800 runs in 29 Tests, including five centuries and seven half-centuries.

During the 2020/21 series in Australia, Gill scored 259 runs across three matches. His performance included two fifties and a crucial 91 at The Gabba in Brisbane, contributing significantly to India's historic three-wicket victory and eventual 2-1 series win.

Overall against Australia in Tests, Gill has scored 444 runs over six matches at an average of 44.40. This includes one century and two fifties, showcasing his potential against challenging opponents.