'England will target Shubman Gill and will try to knock him over': Nick Knight issues warning for India's new captain

Shubman Gill will get tested by England bowlers, believes Nick Knight. (Photo: PTI)

In the India-England Test series, which begins on June 20, Shubman Gill is anticipated to perform well as a batter in addition to his role as captain. Gill has performed admirably at home, but the same cannot be said about his record abroad. He averages 42.03 (1177 in 17 games, 4 centuries) at home, compared to just 27.53 (716 runs in 15 games, 1 century) away from home. Gill is anticipated to guide India to its first series victory in England since 2007.

Nick Knight, a former batter for England, stated that Ben Stokes' team will specifically target Shubman Gill.

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"I think that's going to be pretty crucial because every side, and England will do it. You can bet your bottom dollar, England will do it. No side is more vulnerable than when its captain is feeling a little under pressure and vulnerable. That has a huge impact on the whole dressing room, right? So England will target Shubman Gill. England will try and knock him over. England will try and make him feel uncomfortable," Knight told TOI.

"Because they'll feel that that might have a knock-on effect with those around him. So it's a huge series for Shubman Gill. Who, by the way, I am a huge fan of. And have been for a long, long time. I remember seeing Shubman at 18, 19 in an Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. And I went, wow, this boy can play."

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Additionally, Knight identified a technical weakness in Gill's batting that the home team will want to take advantage of.

"Well, when I've been out in India (for IPL commentary), I always highlight the same thing, really. Sometimes with Shubman, more so when you're sort of a little lacking in confidence and striving for things a little bit for your form, sometimes that front leg just pushes across a little bit too much. And, therefore, the rotation of the body and accessing the ball and playing around that front pad. But of late, I haven't seen that quite so much, if I'm brutally honest," Nick Knight told news agency PTI.

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"...But it becomes more important when you've got a left-armer coming over the wicket and swinging it back into the pads. That's something that he will probably be always aware of. That line outside off stump, again, will be the challenge for all these top-order players, particularly in England."