IPL 2021: Kevin Pietersen brands Shubman Gill as ‘lazy’ following bleak start to the season

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Shubman Gill has had a landmark year after a sparkling debut tour Down Under last year. However, his form took a major dip in the home series against England, and it seems to have found its way into the IPL as well. Former England player Kevin Pietersen while expressing his fondness for the youngster’s style of play, accused him of being lazy in the crease. 

Kevin Pietersen brands Shubhman Gill as 'lazy' following bleak start to the season

While it was initially deemed that the tricky Chepauk wicket might have been the reason for Gill’s slow start to the tournament, the change in venue has not helped the youngster’s cause.

Gill’s numbers have not improved as the side transitioned from Chennai to Mumbai and then to Ahmedabad, where they are currently stationed. he has only put up 132 runs at an average of 18.85 and a strike rate of 117.85 across 6 matches.

Kevin Pietersen claimed that Gill needs to be busy in the crease to get going in an innings.

“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.

He continued by saying that the former U-19 stalwart has to shrug off the laziness at the crease and be more proactive for a brisk start and tallying up the runs.

“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,” Pietersen concluded

David Hussey, KKR’s chief mentor claimed that Gill is at the top of his game and will end up as one of the leading run-scorers in the tournament.

Barring the first game against SRH, the two-time champions are facing top-order issues as none of Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, and Rahul Tripathi handing KKR a good start. The batsmen have failed to convert after settling in and the slow starts have also been a concern as of late.

Coach Brendon McCullum hinted at a potential change in the batting unit after their tame defeat at the hands of the Delhi Capitals.

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