Shubman Gill not number 1 as Navjot Singh Sidhu blind ranks Team India youngsters ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu blind ranked the youngsters according to their recent performances for the national team. Even as the first Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata looms, he didn't put skipper Shubman Gill at number one and instead chose Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Although Jaiswal has established himself as one of the best openers in Test cricket today, Gill boasts of a class of his own. The Punjab-born cricketer is currently the highest run-getter in Test cricket this year, aggregating 979 runs in eight matches, highlighted by a best of 269 at Edgbaston against England. However, Sidhu put him at number two.

The veteran commentator placed No.1 ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma at three, while mercurial seamer Arshdeep Singh found the fourth spot. The fifth and sixth spot went to all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Harshit Rana, respectively.

In the video uploaded on Star Sports, Sidhu also said:

"There is an abundance of talent in the Indian team's reservoir that we are spoilt for choices. It's a sweet predicament. It's a problem of plenty."

Both Gill and Jaiswal will be in action when the first Test against South Africa gets underway on Friday.

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"Super challenging to play all the formats" - Ryan ten Doeschate on Shubman Gill's workload concerns

Shubman Gill during the series against England. (Credits: Getty)

With Gill holding a leadership role in all three international formats, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged the youngster's heavy workload but feels he has taken the challenge well.

He stated in a presser on Wednesday, as quoted by Sports Tak:

"It is super challenging to play all the formats. That is why you see fewer and fewer players playing all formats. Shubman has taken up this challenge and is up for it. The boys are putting up so much work to be in good shape for the challenge."

The Indian skipper had a lean white ball tour of Australia and he will be keen to score heavily against the Proteas.

The first Test against South Africa will commence on Friday, November 14, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Asian Giants began their home season with a comfortable 2-0 series victory over the West Indies.

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Edited by Sooryanarayanan Sesha