EXCLUSIVE: Watch Shubman Gill hit the gym after Melbourne snub. (Photo Source: Disney+hotstar)
Indian team management took a bold decision and dropped from the fourth Test against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. There were growing concerns regarding the form of the 25-year-old and the management decided to bench him and play an extra spinner in Washington Sundar. Notably, he was injured in the first Test in Perth and made his return in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide, where he scored 31 and 28 runs respectively. At Gabba, he made only one.
Meanwhile, after being dropped from the fourth Test at MCG, Gill was spotted hitting the gym in the stadium during the first session of Day 1. India’s fielding coach T Dilip was present with him for a while. The Punjab-born cricketer played 12 Test matches in 2024, scoring 866 runs at an average of 43.30, which is higher than that of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
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On the other hand, Dhruv Jurel, who featured in the first Test in the absence of Gill was seen hitting the nets. Australia captain Pat Cummins also sharpened his batting skills by hitting the nets.
Watch the video of Jurel and Cummins hitting the nets
The hosts had a terrific start to the fourth Test. Opener gave a brilliant start as the 19-year-old played an aggressive brand of cricket and smashed a phenomenal half-century in the middle. He replaced Nathan McSweeney in the playing XI and took on Jasprit Bumrah early in his innings and eventually smacked the Indian pacer for 32 runs in two overs. He hit him all across the park, including reverse scoops and ramps.
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His aggressive batting helped Usman Khawaja settle down as the veteran also ended up scoring a half-century. There were doubts regarding his form leading to the Boxing Day Test, but the knock will settle down the nerves as he will hope to finish the series on a high note. He will hope to capitalize on the start and score a big century to help Australia take a stronger grip on the game.
