Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes the remaining two T20Is against Sri Lanka are really important for Shubman Gill. The youngster made his T20I debut against the Island country in the first game at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.
However, Gill didn’t have a great start to his T20I career as he could only manage seven runs off five balls. Gill played a pull across the line against Maheesh Theekshana, which led to his downfall.
Chopra feels T20 cricket is not ideal for Shubman Gill due to the way he plays and the next two matches will be crucial for him.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “I feel these are very important matches for Shubman Gill. You might say that he just made his debut and you are saying that these are important games. They are important because I am willing to put my hand up and say that when I see Shubman Gill, I see him as a long-format player. The way he plays, T20 cricket is not ideal for him.”
Chopra backed Gill to become India’s captain in ODI and the Test format in the coming years.
“I see him playing Test cricket for India for many years, he might become the captain as well. He will play ODI cricket for India for many years. He might eventually become the captain there as well.”
Gill was in brilliant form in ODI cricket in 2022, scoring 638 runs at an impressive average of 70.88 and a brilliant strike rate of 102.57 in the 12 matches he played last year.
The renowned commentator added Gill has to take his limited opportunities in the shortest format of the game and prove his critics wrong.
“So he (Gill) has just made his debut but he will have to make the best of his opportunities. He will have to prove naysayers like me wrong. Ishan Kishan is batting well, so I will not say anything to him. Suryakumar Yadav got out once, will not get out every time.”
Chopra also wants Sanju Samson to take his chances while batting at number four. However, Samson has now been ruled out of the last two matches.
“I will not say anything there as well but Sanju Samson. Sanju Samson’s fan army is very good, loves him a lot, we all like Sanju but Sanju will have to help himself. No. 4 is probably a little low for him, he is probably a top-three player but there is no chance to get a place before No. 4. So you will have to make the best at this number.”
