'His Average is in the Low 30s': Former India Cricketer Says Shubman Gill Facing 'Serious Competition'

India suffered a massive batting collapse in their second innings of the first Test against South Africa and ended up losing the contest by an innings and 32 runs.

While their were handy contributions from few batters in India’s first innings, the second dig saw only Virat Kohli managing a score of some significance.

Rising star Shubman Gill was among the top players to have failed with the bat as he managed only 28 runs across his two innings.

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Referring to his underwhelming performance, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar reminded Gill of the competition for the slots in the Indian team.

According to the cricketer-turned-pundit, the youngster must show consistency to cement his spot in the team.

Underlining his lack of experience in overseas conditions, Manjrekar feels that the Indian team management might give Gill some more opportunities to bounce back.

“He (Gill) is the real deal,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports. “There is a class there. Somebody who gets an 80 in his very first Test match in foreign condition against a good attack, has to have class. Now, finally, it has come to be about delivery, right? It’s about runs now. And his average at the moment is in the low 30s. He has been around for a while. The thing in India is that he has got batting competition coming through.”

Gill has been one of the few Indian players who has constantly featured in the team across all three formats of the game in recent times.

Manjrekar points out how the youngster hasn’t been a consistent performer Tests and T20Is.

“Gill has to keep getting runs. If you look at his T20 performances, you know he is getting some serious competition there. At the moment, Gill looks entrenched and established in the 50-over format. In the other two formats, there is work to be done,” Manjrekar said.

Apart from Gill and Kohli, not a single Indian batter succeeded in registering a double-digit score in the second innings against South Africa in the first Test.

The Rohit Sharma-led side folded for 131 in the second innings. South Africa batter Dean Elgar was adjudged player of the match for his stupendous knock of 185 in the first innings.