‘He just seems so lazy’ – Kevin Pietersen on Shubman Gill’s difficulties in IPL 2021

Kevin Pietersen, the former England cricketer, reckons that Shubman Gill needs to get busier at the crease to taste more success in the T20 format. In the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gill has flattered to deceive more often than not. In seven games, the youngster has only gotten 132 runs at an average and strike rate of 18.85 and 117.85 respectively.

With only 14 fours and five sixes, the right-hander is yet to come into his own for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The youngster has strained to get the boundaries and find gaps in the powerplay due to which Eoin Morgan and Co have fallen behind the eight-ball in quite a few instances.

Pietersen said that in order to shine in the shortest format, the Fazilka-born Shubman can’t afford to be lazy by any means. The veteran said that in order to survive the rigours of the T20 format, the top-order batsman has to be more proactive.

I want to see purpose when Shubman Gill bats: Kevin Pietersen

“Let’s talk a little bit about Shubman Gill because I think that guy is so good. I absolutely love him as a player. I’ve been watching him quite closely recently and I think Gill needs to get a little busy at the crease. If he can do that, he can then get himself going. He just seems so lazy,” Pietersen was quoted as saying to Star Sports.

“Some of his dismissals are really low and it looks like he doesn’t really fit the speed of the game. You can get very lazy and I think he’s too lazy at the moment. He’s too accommodating. I’d just like him to get a little bit busier and more proactive. Then he won’t miss those balls on his legs and start hitting them. I want to see purpose when he bats,” he added.

Gill made his debut for India back in 2019, but it was only after India’s 2-1 victory over Australia in the Test series earlier this year that he managed to hog the limelight. In seven Tests, Gill has averaged 34.36 with three half-centuries and a top score of 91.