"Absolutely garbage decision making from this management" - Fans shocked by Shubman Gill's exclusion for 4th BGT 2024-25 Test

Most fans were disappointed as Team India excluded young batter Shubman Gill from the playing XI for the all-important Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed the same at the toss, with off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar replacing Gill.

After missing the opening Test in Perth, Gill was one of the few Indian batters to look in good touch in the second Test in Adelaide. However, he failed to convert his excellent starts in both innings and finished with only 59 runs in the match.

The 25-year-old departed for one run from three balls in the third Test in Brisbane, as India battled and eventually saved the rain-interrupted game. Gill's away Test numbers have dropped massively since his impressive debut in Australia in 2020-21.

The stylish right-hander has an overall away Test average of under 31 despite still boasting an impressive average of 39.87 in Tests Down Under. Nevertheless, the move to drop Gill, considering his excellent average of 43.30 in Tests in 2024 surprised several fans on X/Twitter.

Here are a few of the best reactions:

Fans continued expressing their surprise at Gill's exclusion, with one saying:

"Dropping Gill is embarrassing, sorry. If you really wanted Sundar in the side then should have brought him in for NKR. Absolutely garbage decision making from this management in the last few months."

"Dropping Gill is a bizarre decision, really. Only way the swap would make sense is if they had also brought in Prasidh/Harshit in place of NKR, but they haven't done that either. Really baffling decision," tweeted a fan.

"Shubhman Gill did nothing wrong, was better than Rohit and Pant. Unfair on him," a fan said.

Team India look to complete a hat-trick at the MCG despite Shubman Gill's absence in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Team India's overall Test record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) doesn't make for pretty reading. They have won only four out of their 14 outings, with eight losses and two draws.

However, recent history has favored the Men in Blue, who won their last two Tests at MCG in 2018 and 2020. They also drew the 2014 affair, meaning the last time they lost a Test at the iconic venue was in 2011.

With the five-match series level at 1-1, India will be looking to complete a hat-trick of Test wins at MCG. Should they accomplish the same, it would also mean India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with an unassailable 2-1 lead, having won the previous four bilateral Test series against the Aussies.

Meanwhile, Australia skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first on a pleasant Day 1 (Thursday, December 26) morning.