Ahead of the eagerly awaited five-match Test series against England, former England batsman Nick Knight has pointed out a significant mechanical flaw in India skipper Shubman Gill’s batting. From June 20 to June 24, Headingley, Leeds, will host the opening Test.
Shubman will be playing in the longest format for the first time as the Indian captain. Rohit Sharma, who declared his retirement from red-ball cricket on May 7, has handed the reins to him. With India losing key players like Mohammed Shami, Virat Kohli, Rohit, and Ravichandran Ashwin, Shubman will have his work cut out for him. Throughout the tour, the 25-year-old’s abilities as a captain and batter will be closely watched.
Nick Knight, who has provided commentary on Shubman’s games in the Indian Premier League and international cricket, observed that his front leg occasionally pushes across a bit too much.
“Well, I actually always draw attention to the same thing when I’m in India (for IPL commentary). “That front leg just pushes across a little bit too much sometimes with Shubman, especially when you’re kind of lacking in confidence and striving for things a little bit for your form,” Nick Knight was cited as saying by India Today.
The cricketer-turned-commentator also predicted that the Punjab batsman will struggle against a left-arm seamer who bowls above the wicket and swings it back into the pads.
Thus, the body’s rotation, the ball’s access, and the play around that front pad. To be completely honest, though, I haven’t noticed that as frequently lately. However, when a left-armer crosses the wicket and swings it back into the pads, it becomes much more crucial. He will most likely always be conscious of that,” Nick Knight continued.
With a maximum score of 28, Shubman has only amassed 88 runs in his three Test matches played in England. When the two titans kick off their World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 campaign against England, he will try to lead his team from the front.
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