India, June 28 -- It took 39 overs for Shubman Gill to throw the ball to Shardul Thakur in England's first innings at Headingley. He was taken off after three uneventful overs only to return to the attack 22 overs later from a different end. His second spell was slightly better as he conceded 15 runs compared to the 23 he had leaked in his first three overs but he never looked like taking a wicket. The manner in which Gill used Shardul did not indicate that India even believed he could take a wicket. 6 overs for 38 runs can not be and should not be the figures of your fourth seamer when the opposition has scored 465.

There was not much improvement even in the second innings. He got introduced into the attack a tad early - in the 19th ove...