The mighty Indian batting line-up at home was left exposed in the testing overseas condition of Wellington, in the first Test match against New Zealand.
With below-par scores of 165 and 191, the Indian batting line-up collapsed on the track offered at Basin Reserve.
Former New Zealand all-rounder, Scott Styris, during a post-match show, backed the option of playing in Shubman Gill in the batting order ahead of Prithvi Shaw.
Gill was included in the Indian squad after a successful series against New Zealand ‘A’, with scores of 83, 204*, and 136 behind him.
“I am currently, as I have been for a year or two, flying the flag for Shubman Gill. I think he is a special talent who India is leaving out unnecessarily,” Scott Styris commented during the Star Sports show.
India cannot play both Gill and Shaw at the same time, given that Hanuma Vihari bats at number 6 for India. “India and Australia usually bring their new players at no. 6 positions. So India have that option. They can say, ‘Look Prithvi, we know you are young, we’ll come back to you in other conditions'”, continued the Kiwi commentator.
“Maybe put Vihari up the top or put Shubman Gill at 6. Or, of course, they can put him straight into the top of the order because that’s where he usually bats,” concluded Styris.
Later on, commentator Sanjay Manjrekar disagreed with the possibility of Gill being drafted in, with just a couple of opportunities provided to Shaw.
