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Boxing Day Test: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said a player of Shubman Gill’s quality must feature in India’s playing eleven in Tests, adding that how he fits in for the Sydney Test against Australia is the team’s call.

Gill was a surprise omission from India’s playing eleven for the Boxing Day Test against Australia, where they lost by 184 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Though Gill averaged 43.3 in Tests in 2024, it came down to 23.8, which played a part in him being left out for Washington Sundar at Melbourne.

“There’s Shubman Gill, a player of his quality averaging over 40 in the year 2024 and not playing, which is a shame. It tricks your brain as to what he’s doing sitting on the bench and warming it. I'm trying to think, if I had to make him sit out or make a player who is averaging 40 sit out, what will I tell him?”