David Lloyd Praises Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant's Impact on Indian Cricket
Lloyd's Insights on India's Rising Stars
Former cricketer and commentator David Lloyd has likened Shubman Gill's ascent in India's Test squad to that of a new monarch succeeding an old one, particularly following Virat Kohli's retirement. He commended Rishabh Pant for steering the team forward after MS Dhoni, emphasizing that even the most exceptional players can be succeeded, despite initial doubts.
These remarks came after India's impressive performance on the fourth day at Edgbaston during the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Gill delivered a remarkable innings, scoring 161 runs at an impressive pace, making him the first player to achieve both 200 and 150 runs in a single Test match. Pant also made a significant contribution with a quick-fire 65 runs off 58 balls, which included eight fours and three sixes, helping India amass a total of 608 runs.
Lloyd's Column Highlights
In his column for a prominent media outlet, Lloyd expressed:
“People often claim that world-class players cannot be replaced, but is that truly the case? This is a perfect example of ‘The King is dead, long live the King.’ Shubman Gill has seamlessly stepped into the shoes of one of the greatest modern batsmen, Virat Kohli, and has done so with flair. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant continues to be a crowd favorite, elevating India’s game post-Dhoni. High praise indeed for both.”
Lloyd's Agreement with Engineer's Views
As England ended the day at 72/3, India appeared poised for victory on the final day. Pant has already eclipsed Dhoni's performance and is now considered by many as India's finest wicketkeeper ever. Gill's performance has alleviated concerns regarding the number four batting position following Kohli's retirement, as he has accumulated 585 runs in just four innings during this tour, falling short of Kohli's highest series total in England by only eight runs.
Lloyd also raised concerns about the Indian team's selection strategy, questioning the decision to leave out Kuldeep Yadav in favor of Washington Sundar. With England still needing 536 runs to win and seven wickets in hand, the pitch remains conducive to batting, which means India must work diligently to claim the remaining wickets.
Lloyd remarked:
“I received a message from Farokh Engineer asking why Kuldeep Yadav isn’t playing. I concur with Mr. Engineer. On the final day, India might find themselves wishing for some wrist spin. This is when they could really use Yadav, but to be fair, Siraj and Akash Deep have bowled exceptionally well on a surface that hasn’t provided much assistance. India opted for the more conservative choice of Washington Sundar, but will they regret not having Yadav on a day five pitch?”