Aakash Chopra says Australia series will be crucial for Shubman Gill

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes the Australia series will be really important for Shubman Gill. The Indian vice-captain had failed to deliver the goods in the Asia Cup and he would want to be at his absolute best in the T20I series against Australia.

Gill could only manage 43 runs in three ODIs against Australia at an average of 14.33 and he would look to get back amongst the runs. The Indian opener had only managed 127 runs in seven matches of the Asia Cup after he was given the opening slot along with Abhishek Sharma.

Gill had scored 650 runs in IPL 2025 while leading Gujarat Titans and had led from the front.

“This series will be extremely important for Shubman Gill. It’s important for him because runs weren’t scored when he was elevated to ODI captaincy. Again, you can’t read too much into it because it’s just been one series. I get that. So it’s not like there is a question on his place,” Chopra said (2:35).

“There are people breathing down his neck. One is in the team itself. Sanju Samson had opened and done well. You are keeping him with the team and making him bat down the order. Many times it seems like you are being unjust to Sanju Samson. There is pressure if you are not making him open,” he added.

The renowned commentator added that Yashasvi Jaiswal is also waiting in the wings and feels the left-hander is also putting pressure on Gill.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal is around the corner. He says he is also there and should also be played, and that he would also hit if he is played. So making Yashasvi Jaiswal sit out also becomes an issue of pressure,” he observed.

Chopra highlighted that Gill had failed to deliver the goods in the Asia Cup final in the run-chase of 147 as he was dismissed cheaply for 12.

“The truth is that the Asia Cup was also just decent. In the final, actually that was that kind of pitch and that kind of total where you look towards Shubman Gill and say that he should win the game, but he couldn’t win that game,” he said.

The first T20I between India and Australia will be played at Canberra on Wednesday.