Gill’s Duck and India’s Woes: A Disappointing Start in the IND vs ENG 3rd Test

In the ongoing IND vs ENG 3rd Test at Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in Rajkot, Gujarat, Shubman Gill faced a disappointing start, getting out for a 9-ball duck on Day 1, Thursday, February 15. Despite his recent success with a century in the Hyderabad Test, Gill’s early dismissal added to India’s woes after Rohit Sharma opted to bat first and lost quick wickets, leaving the team struggling at 33/3.

Both Gill and Jaiswal fell cheaply to the English bowling attack, with Patidar following suit. However, the promotion of all-rounder Jadeja to number five, alongside Rohit’s aggressive batting, helped stabilize India’s innings, leading them to 93/3 at Lunch after 25 overs on Day 1.

Despite Gill’s remarkable performance in ODIs and T20Is in 2023, the 24-year-old has faced challenges replicating that success in Test cricket. In his last 12 Test innings, as the newly-appointed Gujarat Titans skipper, Gill has managed only one fifty-plus score.

Gill’s recent scores reflect his struggle at the crease: 13, 18, 6, 10, 29*, 2, 26, 23, 0, 34, 104, 0. His discomfort was evident from the start, leading to his dismissal by Mark Wood for a nine-ball duck in the sixth over.

Fans, particularly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), were quick to react, brutally trolling the rising star for his performance in the Rajkot Test.