NEW DELHI: Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra expressed concern over the recent performances of batters Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, asserting that time is running out for the duo.
After Gill and Iyer failed to make significant contributions in the ongoing second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, Chopra emphasized that the young pair has one more opportunity to turn things around.
Scorecard: India vs England 2nd Test
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra remarked on Friday, "Time is running out very fast for Gill and Iyer. They have one more knock, and I really hope that they score runs because if their next knocks do not go well, the problems will become grave for both of them."
Chopra analyzed Gill's performance, stating, "Shubman Gill got a start. He played slightly aggressively at the start for sure, but after that, he got three edges in James Anderson's two overs. The third edge carried to the keeper as well, and he got out. He wasted a good start. 34 runs are not going to be enough."
Concerning Iyer, Chopra pointed out issues with his footwork against pacers.
"Shreyas Iyer also gave a disappointing performance. The way he was moving around was not giving much confidence. You generally do not move around like that against a fast bowler in Test cricket," he added.
Chopra concluded that the upcoming innings will be crucial for both players as persistent poor form could exacerbate their challenges in Test cricket.
Gill has faced a slump since the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia in June last year, scoring just 207 runs in 12 innings at an average of 18.81. Iyer, too, has struggled, managing only 158 runs in his last seven Tests and 11 innings.
(With inputs from ANI)
