3 min readNov 8, 2025 08:21 AM IST
First published on: Nov 7, 2025 at 06:05 PM IST
Shubman Gill has not been at his fluent best in the T20I version for India. Although he has given a glimpse of what he can do from time to time, he is yet to score an innings of substance at the top of the order since being made vice-captain ahead of the Asia Cup. His getting into the side meant that Sanju Samson, who was the opener before, had to alter his position. Samson was batting well as an opener. The decision received sharp criticism from Pundits, former players, and netizens. But on Thursday, Gill scored a gritty 39-ball 46 on a tricky wicket at Carrara Oval, and former Indian cricketer Varun Aaron slammed Gill’s critics.
“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 said on Star Sports.
“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.
All format player
Navigating three formats as a batter in cricket may be a challenge, but Shubman Gill should have no problem in doing so, accordoing to former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson. Gill has this year become a regular in all formats, with the Indian management earmarking him as a future full-time captain of all three sides. He is already leading in Test and ODI cricket and is vice-captain to Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is.
“It does take time (to make adjustments), and it’s through trial and error that you really realise exactly what you need to do to make those adjustments, and playing in different conditions as well,” Watson is quoted as saying by PTI.
“But Shubman is a ridiculously talented batter. He’s got an amazing technique. It’s not going to take him long at all to be able to really navigate his way through the different formats because when someone is as highly skilled as he is, it’s not going to take him too long.”
Shubman Gill in action. (AP photo) 
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