During the fifth day of the fourth Test match of Australia’s tour of India 2023 in Ahmedabad, India captain Rohit Sharma signaled both the teams wanting to shake hands to bring an end to a match which was going nowhere in terms of an outright result by introducing his opening partner Shubman Gill into the attack.
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Playing his 42nd match for India across formats in what has grown into a four-year old international career now, Gill was handed the ball for the first time at the highest level.
Gill, 23, had bowled nine overs in first-class cricket in the past but a vast majority of people witnessed his bowling action for the first time when he was bowling at the Narendra Modi Stadium today.
Gill, who bowled seven balls before both Sharma and Australia stand-in captain Steven Smith (10*) shook hands, gave away a solitary run. Although Gill maintained a decent line and length, it is noteworthy that he bowled harmless deliveries to the likes of Marnus Labuschagne (63*) and Smith.
The sight of Gill rolling his arm over created space for numerous hilarious reactions on social media platform Twitter. With no specialist Indian batter capable of being used as a part-time bowler across both the white-ball formats, fans hoped for Gill to fill this vacancy. That being said, one doesn’t see Gill being used as a bowler in limited-overs formats in the near future.
Shubman Gill bowling video
It is quite a coincidence that Gill first bowled for India at his Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans’ home ground.
Other than this novel sight, Gill and his fans will remember the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 Test match for him scoring his second Test century (first at home). The right-handed batter doing the same has all but guaranteed an opening spot for him for ICC World Test Championship Final 2021-23 against Australia at The Oval later this year.
