Shubman Gill's 'weakness' resurfaces as WTC Final dismissal continues to trouble future India captain in Duleep Trophy

India B put up an impressive total of 321 on the second day of the Duleep Trophy 2024, with Musheer Khan being the standout performer. His remarkable innings of 181 runs, scored off 373 deliveries, was a masterclass in patience and determination. Musheer's innings accounted for over 60 percent of his team's total score, showcasing his dominance on the field. Additionally, Navdeep Saini played a crucial role by adding 56 valuable runs from the lower order, further strengthening India B's position in the match.

As India A began their reply, Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal provided a steady start, amassing 57 runs in just 14 overs. However, the promising partnership was cut short by the same Navdeep Saini who had impressed with the bat. Saini delivered a fuller-length ball that nipped back sharply, deceiving Gill as he shouldered arms. The ball crashed into the off stump, leaving the India A skipper stunned and sending him back to the pavilion with just 25 runs to his name.

This wasn't the first time when such a delivery deceived Gill. In the World Test Championship final last year, Gill was similarly outfoxed by a delivery that nipped sharply back into the right-hander. In that game, Gill had similarly left the delivery, with the ball castling his stumps.

As Gill fell early with a dismissal that has been one of his recurring weaknesses, the fans on social media were critical of the India A captain. Here are some of the reactions:

Gill is one of the integral members of Team India across all formats of the game and was appointed the vice-captain in white-ball formats in July earlier this year. The youngster is now tasked with working on his issues with the ball moving into the right-hander as India embark on a 10-Test long calendar in 2024/25 before the World Test Championship final.

Earlier, the rest of the India B lineup faltered in the first innings, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal managing a notable 30-run contribution before Saini's crucial half-century. Akash Deep claimed four wickets, while Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan chipped in with two wickets each, ensuring that India B's total, although respectable, was not insurmountable.