"India Misses Mahi Bhai": Shubman Gill's Big Tribute To 'Thala' In Ranchi

The Indian cricket team will take on England in the fourth Test in the five-match series in Ranchi starting Friday and any match at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association International Stadium comes with a special focus on local boy MS Dhoni. The former India skipper has visited the team’s dressing room many times after his retirement whenever they play at the venue and young batter Shubman Gill was asked about Dhoni ahead of the match. Gill paid a massive tribute to the veteran star as he said that whether in Ranchi or anywhere else, the team always misses Mahi bhai (Dhoni’s nickname).

“The entire India misses Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni). It does not matter where we play, in Ranchi or anywhere in the world,” Gill said at the pre-match press conference in Ranchi.

 The pitches might not have been entirely in their favour, but the Indian pacers’ ability to strike at vital situations has made a sea of difference in the Test series against England, reckons Shubman Gill.

The four spinners – R Ashwin (11), Ravindra Jadeja (12), Kuldeep Yadav (8) and Axar Patel (5) – together have taken 36 wickets across three matches as compared to 22 by pacers so far.

So, the numbers might be favouring the tweakers, but Gill said the pacemen bowled well according to the conditions to keep their side ahead.

“Wherever we play in India, wickets help spinners a bit. Ash bhai and Jaddu bhai will take wickets anyway, but the way our fast bowlers have bowled, it has made the difference in this series,” said Gill during a media interaction ahead of fourth Test, starting Friday.

However, India will be without Jasprit Bumrah for the Ranchi Test as the premier pacer has been given rest as part of the workload management.

He has so far taken 17 wickets from three Tests to lead the chart for India.

(With PTI inputs)