Sunil Gavaskar explains reason why Shubman Gill is struggling in Test cricket: 'We can only hope that he...'

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Sunil Gavaskar has tried to decode Shubman Gill's struggle in Test cricket lately and reckoned that the 24-year-old is playing a bit too aggressively in the longest format of the game.

The statement from Sunil Gavaskar comes after his twin failures in the Boxing Day Test match which India lost by an innings and Centurion against South Africa. The right-hand batter scored 2 and 26 across the two innings. Gill has scores of 26, 2, 29*, 10, 6, 18 and 13 in his last seven innings.

Gill registered just one fifty-plus score in 2023 which saw him score 258 runs in six matches at an innings at an average of 28.66. He averaged 29.87 in nine Test matches in 2021, and 29.66 in three Test matches in 2022.

Gavaskar explained the characteristics of the red ball and before asserting that Gill needs to be mindful of his shot selections. He also hoped the crowned 'Prince' of Indian cricket to roar back to form soon.

"I think he is playing a bit too aggressively in Test cricket. There is a slight difference when you play Test cricket when compared to T20I and ODI cricket. The difference is in the ball," Gavaskar told Star Sports.

"The red ball moves a little more than the white ball in the air and off the pitch as well. It bounces a little more too. He should keep that in mind.

"Shubman Gill started off his career so well and we praised his shots. We can only hope that he gets back into his form. Hope he trains harder and does well in the future," Gavaskar said

The youngster would be hoping to kick off his 2024 season on a high when India take on South Africa in the second and final Test of the series in Johannesburg from January 3.