Shubman Gill, one of India’s most promising young batsmen, has faced heavy criticism after a dismal performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. Gill could only score 93 runs in five innings in Australia, leaving fans and cricket experts deeply disappointed.

Now, former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath has made a bold and controversial statement about Shubman Gill, claiming that the Punjab lad would have been dropped from the Indian cricket team if he hailed from Tamil Nadu after a series of poor performances in cricket test.

Subramaniam Badrinath criticizes Shubman Gill for lack of intent and aggression in BGT 2024-25

Subramaniam Badrinath has not only criticized the right-hander for his poor numbers but also for his inability to adapt to challenging conditions and contribute to the team beyond scoring runs in the recent five-match Test series against Australia, which won the BGT 2024. 25 by a margin of 3-1.

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He noted that Shubman Gill, averaging just over 35 after 32 Tests, had failed to show the courage and determination required at the highest level. He mentioned Australians Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney, who, despite their struggles, managed to frustrate India’s attacking pace by occupying the box and tiring players like Jasprit Bumrah.

Subramaniam Badrinath, criticizing Gill’s approach, argued that the Indian batsman lacked intent and aggression, and failed to play long innings to help the Indian cricket team. While Labuschagne and McSweeney played crucial defensive knocks that helped their team stay competitive, Badrinath said he was not really impressed by Gill’s performance.

If Shubman Gill was from Tamil Nadu, he would have been eliminated: Subramaniam Badrinath

The commentator also emphasized that a batsman’s contribution is to support his teammates, tire players and keep the innings together, not just score runs, and Gill failed in all aspects on the recent tour of Australia.

Badrinath said on Star Sports Tamil: “If it was Shubman Gill of Tamil Nadu, he would have been eliminated. It’s very difficult for me to see this. For that level, it hasn’t lived up to expectations. You can get races; You can’t, but there should have been intention and aggression. I wanted him to tire out the players. I want you to do the old ball.

Help your teammates and stand your ground even if runs don’t come. Play 100 balls, tire the players. This is what your team brings to the table. [is supposed to be]. Labuschagne and McSweeney did that in a couple of games. By playing with a lot of dot balls, they had actually hurt Bumrah.”

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Couldn’t stop at slip and point: Badrinath questions Gill’s place in India team

To add fuel to the fire, Gill’s performance on the field also came under scrutiny. The former Indian cricketer also criticized Gill’s fielding, saying that he cannot even be included at slips and questioning his overall value to the team. He pointed out that Gill not only failed to deliver as a batsman but also failed in his fielding responsibilities in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Badrinath signed off by saying, “You shouldn’t go there and say, ‘Oh, this is how I play.’ I will stand up and deliver. Four people will write about it. Whatever you can do, at that moment, try to do it. In this series, I didn’t get it from Shubman. Even in the countryside he was poor. I couldn’t stay on the slip and dot. What does he contribute to the team?