Ponting analyses Gill's overseas struggles
ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting broke down the India opener’s struggles with replicating his home form overseas.
India opener Shubman Gill is one of the brightest talents in the game, but while his performances at home have been exceptional his overseas record has room for improvement.
Australia legend Ricky Ponting, speaking in the latest episode of The ICC Review, believes the opener can improve his fortunes in Australia with minor tweaks to his approach.
"I love watching him play. When you're watching him bat and bat well, he looks as good as anyone in world cricket,” Ponting said.
“But the numbers don't really stack up, do they, away from home?”
Since his breakout performance at the Gabba in 2021 where his composed 91 helped India clinch a historic series win, Gill has scored just one Test century away from home – in Bangladesh in 2022.
He averages 23.8 across nine Tests in England, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa and Australia.
In the same period, Gill has accumulated 1177 runs and four hundreds across 17 Tests at an average of 42.03 at home.
Watch: Shubman Gill at Cricket World Cup 2023
Shubman Gill hit eight fours and three sixes during his unbeaten 80.
After injury forced him out of the series opener in Perth, Gill returned scores of 31 and 28 in Adelaide and just one run in Brisbane.
Ponting says the opener may be over-complicating his approach.
"I watched him a little bit in Adelaide and it almost looked like he changed things up too much,” Ponting said.
“Scott Boland was bowling and he changed his guard, he moved across to the off stump, presented his front pad to Boland, and Boland got him out with a full straight one."
However, rather than making any major changes, Ponting said Gill could improve his returns by trusting his instincts.
"If anything, I think he needs to back himself a little bit more, needs to back his defensive technique a little bit more here in Australia and still find a way to be able to score and score quickly.
"I'm sure when he's at home or when he's generally scored runs anywhere around the world, he scores them in a nice, attacking mode and almost to the point where he's not really thinking about getting out - he's only thinking about scoring runs.
"If he goes in with that mindset and that attitude, then things could change here in Melbourne for him."
Look back: Ponting on Boland's delivery to dismiss Gill at the WTC23 Final
The fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Melbourne will begin on Boxing Day, with India chasing a win to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship Final.