Sanjay Manjrekar wants Shubman Gill to improve his footwork in Tests

India have backed Shubman Gill to open the innings in Tests for quite some time now. He made his debut in Melbourne last year against Australia. He did well down under but then struggled at home against England and his travails continued in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final as well. While he got a start in the first innings scoring 28 runs, Gill was pinned in front of the stumps by Tim Southee in the second for just 8.

The incoming delivery has been causing problems for Shubman Gill and Southee did the same to him on the fifth day of the Test. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has delved a little bit deep into his technique and reckons that the opening batsman has to work on his footwork ahead of the Test series in England.

“He will have to work on his footwork, something that is obvious for everyone to see. Getting out to the ball leaving and coming back in is a problem. It’s always front foot. Shubman Gill, right through this Test match not once I sae him going back. He is really focussed on making sure he doesn’t get out to the ball that is pitched up. Again he got caught up in making sure that front pad is across and worried about the outswinger,” he said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

Manjrekar reckons Gill’s technique currently suits to Australian conditions

Sanjay Manjrekar further elaborated that Shubman Gill’s current footwork will work in Australia where the ball at times shoots along the ground due to the cracks. This is when planting the front foot forward is very important. But while batting in England, he feels Gill should improve his footwork.

“It is the kind of footwork where you see from batters when you are playing in Australia in grounds like Adelaide where the ball just shoots along the ground. In that case, come what may, you have to come on the front foot. I am a little sceptical if it is the right way to go about to be on the front foot all the time (in England),” Manjrekar added.