India’s 1-3 Test series defeat in Australia has exposed significant issues within the team. Cracks have begun to emerge, which were not previously evident. A 0-3 clean sweep against New Zealand at home last year was a wake-up call, and the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy emphasized the need for serious introspection and possibly some tough decisions for progress.
While it seems logical for senior players to face criticism, the next generation being groomed as long-term replacements also needs to be scrutinized. Among these young stars, there were high expectations from Shubman Gill, particularly in Australia, where he made his Test debut and impressed in 2020. However, during the BGT 2024-25 series, he scored just 93 runs in five innings, averaging 18.60 — a performance that fell short of his potential.
Former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath expressed strong views on Gill’s performances, even suggesting regional bias. He remarked on Star Sports Tamil, “If Shubman Gill had been named Subramaniam, he would have been dropped. It’s difficult for me to watch this repeatedly because he hasn’t lived up to expectations.”
Badrinath clarified that his criticism wasn’t about getting out but rather Gill’s lack of intent. “There’s nothing wrong with losing your wicket — scoring runs isn’t always possible — but there should be intent and attitude. You should try to tire the bowlers and make the ball old. Even if you aren’t scoring, staying at the crease helps your teammates by wearing out the ball. Play 50 or 100 balls, contribute in ways beyond scoring runs,” he emphasized.
Do you agree with Subramaniam Badrinath?
