'Favouritism': Shubman Gill makes life difficult for Rahul Dravid with struggles in WI

Rohit Sharma and Co. defeated West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series by five wickets at the Kensington Oval ground in Barbados. The Indian spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja took a total of seven wickets out of the ten Windies' wickets and broke the backbone hosts' batting lineup. Ishan Kishan also helped the team chase down a total of 115 runs and played a knock of 52 runs off 46 balls. 

3 things you need to know 

• Team India spinner Kuldeep Yadav was adjudged Player of the Match for his four-wicket haul 
• Team India's won its seventh consecutive ODI match against the West Indies 
• The IND vs WI ODI series is not a part of the ICC Men's Cricket World 2023 Super League 

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Shubman Gill's dismal performance in the West Indies 

Team India batsman Shubman Gill has been in excellent form in the last seven to eight months and has hit centuries in all formats. The young right-handed batter was the highest run-scorer in the Indian Premier League 2023. However, the Indian opener has not been able to impress the fans with his batting skills so far on the West Indies tour. Gill failed to score big runs in three innings of the two-match Test series and also got out for a score of seven runs in the first ODI match. 

Netizens troll Rahul Dravid for favoritism over Shubman Gill 

Shubman Gill came out to open in the first IND vs WI ODI match, however, the netizens on social media have started to troll Indian team skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for giving chances to Gill despite his failing attempts. 

We will not be able to win the World Cup until there is a foreign coach in the setup of the Indian team.Foreigners coaches are never in favoritism. In the current Rahul Dravid, he only wants to see Shubman Gill playing.

— Ashwïñî Rìshåbh Sïñgh (@RishabhAshwini) July 28, 2023

Rohit Sharma allow Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan for open and managing team India batting line-up be like 😅#INDvWI #RohitSharma #WIvsIND pic.twitter.com/F3UsGMoXI9

— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) July 28, 2023

DII's are like Rahul Dravid , they can protect the downside..
FII's are like Shubman Gill, they can take the scoreboard where nobody can even predict.
Retailers are the Boundary wale Boys, they think that they are the part of the game, but they are meant to throw the ball back..

— Darvas Box Trader (@darvasboxtrader) July 28, 2023

Last 8 international innings of Shubman Gill:

20
0
37
13
18
6
10
29
7

Here are two requests for @BCCI @JayShah 🙏

1. Pls arrange some matches in Ahmedabad with second string bowlers.

2. Bring back our MR ICC Sikhar Dhawan back in odi side.@SDhawan25pic.twitter.com/aEiYZeDXQx

— Lordgod🚩 (@LordGod188) July 28, 2023

ALSO READ | India defeats West Indies by 5 wickets in 1st ODI: See full story in pictures

The second ODI of the three-match series between India and West Indies will be played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on July 29, 2023.  And Shubman Gill would be hoping to put in a better display in the second ODI and prove his detractors wrong.