Gill doesn’t need to play like Samson! Aakash Chopra on the approach for the match India vs Pakistan
20, 10 and 5 – These are so far the scores of Shubman Gill in the Asian Cup. His strike rate (145.83) was not a problem, but he has not yet passed the power game.
Team India has been a force to reckon with in the 2025 Asia Cup. The Men in Blue have won with such ease that no one’s really questioned anyone’s performance. However, some started to discuss Shubman Gill. Brought into the T20I setup and named India’s vice-captain, the expectations are high.
Gill also replaced Sanju Samson as the second opener. The wicketkeeper hasn’t set a foot wrong since claiming the opener’s spot last year. But he has been displaced to the middle order to accommodate Gill. And after three matches, the performance from either of them hasn’t been great.
How Gill must play as India’s Asia Cup opener
Former India opener Aakash Chopra thinks Gill’s non-performance has to be assessed. He had no issues with people being critical of the 26-year-old but thinks he shouldn’t be expected to bat like Samson, who’s gone either boom or bust as India’s T20I opener. Aakash thinks that Gill was brought in to be the anchor and must play that role.
“Abhishek Sharma has been playing well thus far. He is giving starts at a strike rate of 200 in every match. He has scored 30-odd runs in double-quick speed and given everyone else a chance to breathe. However, Gill hasn’t fired. He remained not out on 20 in the first match for sure, but after that, he got out to Saim Ayub’s ball and then got bowled (against Oman).
So that is one area that we need to address. Although it’s in our mind that Gill has come in place of Sanju and should do a job like Sanju and give an explosive start, these are not those kinds of pitches. 200 runs won’t be scored here. So Gill, you have to do what you do probably better than everyone else,” Aakash said on his YouTube channel.
Gill should be India’s anchor
So far in the Asia Cup, 13 matches have been played. The highest score has been just 188. The pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi aren’t the usual batting-friendly surfaces. Keeping this in mind, Gill was brought in to bat until the halfway mark, ensuring there aren’t any collapses. He hasn’t done that yet, and Aakash wants him to do that in the remaining matches, starting with the India vs Pakistan match.
“Just bat deep into the innings. After that, when you wish, after you are set and have played seven to 10 overs, I don’t care even if you get out while trying to hit a six. However, you need to be there for this team to bat deeper, especially if Axar isn’t there and you have a slight lack of depth in batting. Then Gill’s role will increase even further,” the cricketer-turned commentator added.
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