Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that the upcoming five-match T20 series against Australia will be a defining moment for Shubman Gill, who is now facing increasing pressure to perform with the bat after being promoted to leadership roles.
Shubman Gill is now being kept under close watch as the competition for the opening slot in T20 is increasing. Chopra has pointed out that Gill’s recent form has not been entirely convincing.
After being promoted to the T20I vice-captaincy and ODI captaincy, the Punjab player failed to make a strong statement with the bat, and his performances in the Asia Cup 2025 and the ODI series against Australia raised questions over his consistency.
Aakash Chopra says Australia T20I will be a make or break series for Shubman Gill
In the Asia Cup 2025, Gill scored only 127 runs in seven innings at an average of 21.17 and in the recent ODI series against Australia, he scored only 43 runs in three matches at an average of 14.33.
Also read: ‘I knew how much water the boy was in’ – Suryakumar Yadav’s blunt statement on Shivam Dubey
Chopra said that the upcoming T20 series is important for Gill as other capable players are ready to step up. Both Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are in excellent form, are putting pressure on Gill for the opening batsman’s position.
Samson has impressed whenever he has got the chance at the top, but has often been pushed down the order, and Chopra felt this was unfair to Samson.
There are people who are strangling Shubman Gill: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, “This series will be very important for Shubman Gill. It is important for him because when he was given the ODI captaincy, runs were not scored. Again, you can’t read too much into it because it is just a series. I get it. So it’s not like there is any question about his place.”
The cricket pundit further said, “There are people who are breathing down his neck. There is one in the team itself. Sanju Samson had opened and performed well. You are keeping him with the team and making him bat lower down the order. Sometimes it feels like you are being unfair to Sanju Samson. If you are not making him open then there is pressure.”
Notably, Jaiswal’s explosive starts and high strike rate have made him a strong contender for a role in India’s T20I lineup. Statistically, Gill has scored 705 runs in 28 T20I innings at a strike rate of 141.28.
ALSO READ: Stuart Broad’s father reveals how he mocked the fast bowler with Yuvraj Singh-signed jersey after his nightmare of 6 sixes
The firepower of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson has troubled Shubman Gill.
In comparison, Samson has scored 993 runs in 42 innings at a better strike rate of 147.98, while Jaiswal has scored 723 runs in just 22 innings at an excellent strike rate of 164.31.
These numbers show that Gill is facing tough competition in the T20 series. And Chopra further added, “Yashasvi Jaiswal is in the corner. He says he is also there and should be fed, and if he is fed he will also hit. So, sitting Yashasvi Jaiswal out also becomes a pressure issue.”
Chopra highlighted Gill’s inability to play match-winning innings in the Asia Cup 2025 final despite conditions being favorable for his style. He believes that Gill does not look completely out of form, but his recent low scores and the rise of other openers have put pressure on him to play big innings on the Australia tour.