A player like Shubman Gill can play anywhere from No. 1 to No. 5, he has a game like that: Wasim Jaffer

Shubman Gill's recent performances in the Test series against West Indies have sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts. Wasim Jaffer, a former Indian opener and now a commentator, believes that Gill possesses the skills to bat at any position in Test cricket. However, he also pointed out that the young batter couldn't make the most of his opportunities at No. 3 in the series.

Gill's request to bat at No. 3 was granted, and he was given the chance to showcase his talent in the crucial position. Unfortunately, he couldn't capitalize on it as he got out cheaply in two out of three innings, falling victim to both spin and pace.

Jaffer, while acknowledging Gill's talent, expressed his lack of surprise over the decision to bat at No. 3. He mentioned that many openers, including himself, have faced challenges in opening the innings after fielding for long hours. No. 3 provides some respite, allowing a player to observe the pitch and the bowling before facing the new ball.

"He is a good player. A player like him can play anywhere from No. 1 to No. 5. Shubman Gill has a game like that, However, we have consistently seen him open. I am not surprised about his decision to choose No. 3. We openers had a problem sometimes when we fielded for 150 overs and had to go and face the new ball within 10 minutes. So No. 3 gives you a little cushion," Jaffer said during a discussion on JioCinema.

I would give him four marks because he got two good opportunities: Jaffer

The former opener gave Gill a modest four out of ten for his performance against the Windies. While the low scores are not a massive concern at this early stage of his career, Jaffer advised Gill to work on strengthening his game, especially on slow pitches. He observed that Gill tends to play on the rise, which could be a factor contributing to his difficulties on sluggish surfaces.

"I would give him four marks because he got two good opportunities. However, these are early days, it's not a huge concern, but the tour has not been good," Jaffer added.

Despite the struggles, Jaffer remains optimistic about Gill's future in Test cricket. He reminded everyone of Gill's impressive century in Bangladesh, where the conditions are similar to those in India - slow and spin-friendly. With a little more experience and fine-tuning of his skills, Gill can translate his success in white-ball cricket to the Test format.