Ravi Shastri lambasts Shubman Gill's critics: 'Go and see your own record'

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has lambasted the critics of Shubman Gill and his away form in Tests as the 25-year-old is tipped to become India's next Test captain. Team India has been in search of a new captain in Tests since Rohit Sharma retired earlier this month.

Gill is reportedly leading the race ahead of Jasprit Bumrah to be named as the new captain for the five-match Test series against England, which starts on 20 June. The Punjab cricketer, however, has faced criticism for his poor Test record.

Gill averages 35 in 32 Tests and only 27.53 in 15 away matches. Since scoring the memorable 91 at the Gabba in 2021, he has not hit a single fifty in SENA countries -- South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia.

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Shastri comes to Gill's defence

Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, however, is unfazed and has thrown his weight behind Gill, saying most of those questioning him have far worse away records.

"The little I've seen of Shubman looks very interesting. Composed, calm, he has all the qualities," Shastri said on ICC Review. “You people will talk he's not scored runs overseas. You know, that topic always comes, not scored runs overseas. Sometimes I tell them, go and see your own record, how much have you done overseas? Overseas, overseas, let him play, let him get a run overseas, then he'll score runs. He's a class player."

Shastri is confident that soon Gill will discover his form in away matches and compensate for all the failures.

“He has a decade of cricket ahead of him for the country," he said. "And I'm sure he'll get cracking in one of the tours, he'll make up for all those runs he's not got on earlier."

It's interesting to note that India head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors are leaning towards Gill despite experienced players like Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant being part of the team. That speaks volumes about Gill's capability. However, Indian Test captaincy is never easy and the England tour could prove to be a trial by fire if he is appointed the next skipper.