Before the third T20 match against Australia, former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has given a big statement on vice-captain Shubman Gill. The cricketer-turned-commentator said Gill will have to convert his starts into big scores, especially as Yashasvi Jaiswal awaits his chance in this format.
India were all out for just 125 runs in 18.4 overs during the second T20 match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on Friday, October 31. Gill scored only five runs from 10 balls before being dismissed. Australia easily achieved the target in 13.2 overs and won by four wickets.
Shubman Gill has not even scored a total of 200 runs – Irfan Pathan
In a video on his YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan said that Shubman Gill will have to justify the continuous support he is getting from the team management. Pathan told that Gill has failed to score even 200 runs in his last 10 innings and Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting for the opportunity.
Pathan said, “In his last ten innings he has not even scored a total of 200 runs, so the pressure will be on him. He is getting opportunities, he is getting support, but he needs to convert those opportunities into performances, which has not happened yet.”
He said, “You have Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting on the bench, an excellent T20 player that we have seen in the IPL, who has been striking around 160. If a player like that is sitting out, while Shubman Gill is getting consistent chances and is still not able to make them count, then there will be pressure on him and the team. It is something that the management needs to look at.”
Shubman Gill needs to score runs continuously – Irfan Pathan
The 41-year-old said Gill’s failures could open doors for Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal’s talent cannot be ignored, he said, adding that the youngster has the potential to score a double century in ODIs and a century in T20Is.
Pathan further said, “Shubman Gill needs to score runs consistently, it is very important. Otherwise, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is not playing ODI or T20 cricket for India right now, is such a talented player that he is capable of doing wonders.”
“He can also score double centuries in ODIs, that’s how good he is. And he has the ability to score centuries in T20s too. So, sitting a player like him out is something that the Indian team needs to look at seriously.”
Statistics of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal in T20I
Shubman Gill made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in early 2023. After being out of the team for several months, he was brought back ahead of the Asia Cup and made Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy.
However, his comeback has been tremendous. He has scored 169 runs in nine matches at an average of 24.14 and strike rate of 148.25. Overall, Gill has played 30 T20Is, scoring 747 runs at an average of 28.73 and a strike rate of 141.20, including three half-centuries and one century.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal was not included in the squad for the Australia tour despite having an excellent T20I record. This aggressive left-handed batsman has scored 723 runs in 23 matches at an average of 36.15 and strike rate of 164.31, which includes five half-centuries and one century.
After the defeat in Melbourne, India is trailing 0-1 in the series, so it is necessary for the team to win the third T20 match to retain the series. The opening match of the series was canceled due to rain.
Also read: Arshdeep Singh takes sharp dig at Gautam Gambhir through cryptic Instagram story after being dropped from T20I XI
