Shubman Gill’s difficult phase in T20 international cricket continue, in the second T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur. The Indian opener was dismissed for a golden duck, out on the very first ball he faced. This added to his recent poor form in the format.
This was Gill’s second low score in the series. In the first T20I, he made just 4 runs off 2 balls. After returning from a neck injury that kept him out of Tests and ODIs.
Gill has struggled to find rhythm in T20Is. His last 12 T20I innings highlight the inconsistency: 5 (6), 47 (31), 29 (18), 4 (5), 29 (25), 12 (13), 37 (27), 5 (6), 15 (10), 46 (36), 4 (2), and 0 (1). These scores show an aggregate of 233 runs at an average of about 19.4, with no half-century and eight single-digit dismissals. His strike rate in these 12 innings stands at 135.7, reflecting a decent but not aggressive approach for a T20 opener.
At 25, Gill is India’s vice-captain in T20Is and a star in longer formats, with ODI double centuries to his name. But in T20 cricket, he has been inconsistent. His strike rate is around 130-140, which is okay but not explosive like modern openers need.
Team management lead by Gautam Gambhir has backed Gill, keeping him in the team despite talks of bringing in Yashasvi Jaiswal or Sanju Samson. With the 2026 T20 World Cup coming up, Gill needs to score big soon to secure his spot.
Fans on social media were disappointed, with many calling for a change. But Gill has time to turn it around in the remaining matches. He is a talented player, and a good knock could get him back on track.
India have depth in batting, with players like Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya able to rescue chases. For Gill, this tough period is a test. If he overcomes it, he can become a key player for India in all formats.
