As India and England gear up for their fourth Test showdown in Ranchi, Shubman Gill spotlights the silver lining in the absence of cricket veterans like Virat Kohli. This void has unfolded as a golden opportunity for emerging talents to shine on the grandest stage of them all.
Gill points to Sarfaraz Khan's impressive debut in Rajkot, where he hit two fifties, underscoring the potential among the newer members of the squad. "Virat bhai is not with us for the last three Tests, and yes, the absence of a player of his class makes a bit of difference. But I think Sarfaraz came in and played well. So, I think players are doing well in the opportunities that they are getting." This scenario has infused a certain urgency among the rookies, aware that their window to impress could narrow once the seasoned players make their return.
"The young players have got the opportunity because Virat bhai or Bumrah bhai are not there. So, those youngsters also know that this opportunity might not remain with them for long, so they are trying to give their best in every opportunity," he added.
Yashasvi Jaiswal embodies this seize-the-day ethos, having amassed 545 runs, including two consecutive double centuries, leading the series' run-scoring charts.
While Captain Rohit Sharma has expressed hopes for Jaiswal's continued humility and growth, Gill believes that as long as players like Jaiswal are making significant contributions, their demeanour shouldn't be a point of contention. "I don't think there is any problem with youngsters not being humble. You know, if you don't have it (talent) then you will not be scoring back-to-back double hundreds. Not many in world cricket have scored back-to-back double hundreds. He definitely is a sensational player. We have seen it over the eight or nine Tests," Gill elaborated.
The series has also highlighted the pivotal role of India's pace attack, despite the spin-friendly conditions favoring the quartet of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel. Gill believes the fast bowlers' contributions have been crucial to India's edge in the series.
"Wherever we play in India, wickets help spinners a bit. Ash bhai and Jaddu bhai will take wickets anyway, but the way our fast bowlers have bowled, it has made the difference in this series," Gill shared. Although Jasprit Bumrah will be absent for the Ranchi Test, Gill is confident in the seasoned pacers' ability to step up, citing Mohammed Siraj's impactful performance in Rajkot as an example.
"Like I talked about Virat bhai, if a player in the class of Boom bhai is not playing, any team will miss him, especially since he leads our fast-bowling attack. But if you look at it, Siraj took four wickets in crucial times in the last match. So, I think, all the pacers have enough experience in Indian conditions, especially bowling reverse swing," Gill concluded, optimistic about India's prospects in the upcoming encounter.
ICC Rankings: Yashasvi Jaiswal leaps into Top 20 after historic double hundred against England