Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar feels Shubman Gll could take a leaf out of Ollie Pope’s knock in the second innings of the first Test match against India at Hyderabad. Pope scored a masterclass knock of 196 runs off 278 balls with the help of 21 fours. Pope’s 196 is the highest score by an England batter in the second innings in India.
With the help of Pope’s marathon knock, England scored 420 runs in the second innings to take a lead of 230 runs. Pope effectively employed the reverse sweep and scored consistently against the Indian spinners.
On the other hand, Gill was dismissed after scoring 23 runs in the first innings after settling at the crease. Gill played a poor shot as he could not convert his start into a substantial score.
Meanwhile, Pope looked tentative in the first innings as he was dismissed after scoring a solitary run but he was able to turn the tables in the second dig.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said: “There was one very important difference in the way he (Pope) played in the first as opposed to the second. He still trusted his front foot game, but if you look at the first few balls that he faced, he got onto the front foot, but it was a very purposeful reaction and effort where he was looking for ones and twos; he was looking to score. That’s something Shubman Gill could incorporate into his batting because he also likes to get onto the front foot.”
Manjrekar hailed Pope for his brilliant knock under pressure in the second essay as he feels the right-hander played one of the finest centuries in India.
“I’ve seen Kevin Pietersen, as an English batter, get a fantastic hundred at the Wankhede Stadium. I’ve seen Steve Smith get a hundred for Australia in Pune. I think Ollie Pope has played one of the finest innings that we have seen in recent times from a foreign batter on a pitch like this. One of the finest hundreds that you’d see.”
India need 231 runs to win the opening Test match.
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