Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels the pressure will rise on Shubman Gill if he doesn’t score runs in the last two T20Is against the West Indies. After scoring a fine knock of 85 runs in the third ODI against the Windies, Gill hasn’t been able to carry the same form in the T20I series.
The Indian opener has returned with a low string of scores – 3, 7, and 6 in the first three T20Is and thus has even failed to reach the double-digit mark. Gill played a half-hearted shot in the third T20I at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Tuesday as he top-edged the ball.
Furthermore, Yashasvi Jaiswal didn’t have a great T20I debut as he was dismissed after scoring only one run.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “Yashasvi Jaiswal came to open alongside Shubman Gill. Yashasvi got out in the first over. He tried to play a big shot and got out. Shubman Gill once again got out, this time off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling. He was dismissed off his bowling in the last match as well.”
The former Indian opener added: “Questions will be raised. He committed a mistake once again. He will play for now but it is important that he scores runs, because if he doesn’t score runs, the questions will become bigger.”
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan was dropped from the final XI after he returned with scores of 6 and 27 in the first two T20Is. The reputed commentator feels Gill can also be dropped if he isn’t consistent in the shortest format.
“You have to remember that we have played 11 matches since the T20 World Cup and he has played almost all the matches, he has missed just an odd one in between. So a valid question will be asked that if you can make Ishan Kishan sit out, then why not Shubman Gill?”
Chopra highlighted that apart from a couple of good knocks, Gill hasn’t been consistent enough in the T20I format.
“You are not playing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. If you are giving opportunities to a young player, that player has to make the most of his chances. No one gets indefinite time. He did score a very good century against New Zealand. Other than that, I think he has just one 50-plus score and the rest are all low scores.”
The fourth T20I between India and West Indies will be played on Saturday at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida.
