The 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy will begin on Friday, with India facing Australia in the opening Test of a five-match series in Perth. The Indian squad will be in strange terrain because senior hitter Cheteshwar Pujara, who was a key component in the team’s last two Test series victories in Australia, will be absent for the extended visit. Pujara, who is part of the official commentary team for the series, believes Test cricket is changing as white-ball players bring a new approach to batting in the game’s longest format.
Shubman Gill, a young batsman who has been batting at No. 3 for almost a decade, is expected to miss the opening game at Optus Stadium with a thumb injury.
Gill will have his work cut out against Australia, but Pujara wants the teenager to trust his skills and forge his own personality.
“Shubman has already played Tests in Australia. He has prior expertise dealing with these issues. He should stick to his way and play accordingly. But he needs to be clear about which shots to play and which to avoid because you can’t play many of the strokes in Australia that you can in India,” Pujara said during a Star Sports engagement.
Pujara also encouraged Gill to be more deliberate in his shot selection moving ahead.
“He needs to appraise his capabilities and decide which shots he should avoid. However, he is a highly gifted player who can execute a variety of shots. Nonetheless, in Australia, you frequently have to dodge several shots. “He needs to identify and avoid those,” he said.
However, Pujara prefers experienced hitter KL Rahul to bat third, citing the latter’s experience batting in the middle order as a significant component.
“KL Rahul has the technique and temperament to be a good No. 3 batsman, but it seems like the management wants to make him open the batting,” Pujara said.
Devdutt Padikkal, who was added to India’s team the night before the first Test, is probably going to bat at number three if Gill is unable to do so.
