Follow UsSince his comeback to India’s T20I side, Shubman Gill hasn’t had the best of times in the 20-over format, scoring just 230 runs with a strike rate of 139.39. While these numbers are definitely not bad in isolation, they become a little mismatch when compared to his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma.
In this five-match T20I series against Australia, Gill has had scores of 37* (20), 5 (10), 15 (12) and 46 (39), with critics constantly questioning his strike rate in the format. However, former Indian pacer Varun Aaron has a different perspective, as the pacer backed Gill as a vital cog in a team that is otherwise filled with hitters.
“The thing with Gill is that when conditions don’t favour batting, you can always put your money on Shubman Gill because of his technique, because of his poise, and because of his game awareness. He knows exactly what wicket offers, what kind of stroke play, and he plays according to that. So you need somebody like him in the T20 setup,” Varun Aaron said on Star Sports.
Gill’s place comes under scrutiny only because the management broke a strong Sanju Samson-Abhishek Sharma bond at the top of the order. The duo had several outstanding starts for India, and dominated international cricket as a batting pair before getting broken up to accommodate Gill.
Despite that, Aaron continued to support Gill, stating that even his 39-ball 46 was a knock worth its weight in gold, as India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series.
“When people raise questions about Shubman Gill being in the T20 setup, it never makes sense to me because this is what he gives you when everybody else fails on a wicket that is slightly difficult compared to the other wickets in this whole series. He gives you a 46, which is worth its weight in gold,” he added.
India would be hoping to continue their T20I streak, needing one more win to complete ten unbeaten T20I series in a row.