Is India Fixing Something That Wasn’t Broken?
Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron remarked, “It never makes sense to question Shubman Gill’s place in the T20 setup.” This comment followed Gill’s solid performance, scoring 46 off 39 balls during India’s 48-run victory over Australia in Gold Coast. Irfan Pathan agreed, noting that Gill played his role effectively in a challenging batting environment.
In the washed-out fifth T20I in Brisbane, Gill showcased increased aggression, scoring 29 off 16 balls and outpacing his partner, World No. 1 Abhishek Sharma. India scored 52 without loss in just 4.5 overs before rain interrupted. Despite Abhishek’s off day, where he dropped two catches and struggled for rhythm, Gill stood out with his impressive batting at the Gabba.
Abhishek bluntly stated that their partnership had transformed from fire and ice to fire and fire, highlighting Gill’s value at the top of the order. Yet, one must question if India truly needs Gill in their T20I team.
Learning from Past Mistakes
To assess this, we must revisit India’s underwhelming T20 World Cup appearances in 2021 and 2022, where despite strong players like Rohit, Kohli, and Rahul, the team could not clinch the title. The turning point was the 2022 semifinal against England, where India could only muster 168 runs on a batting-friendly pitch, leading to a rapid chase by England without losing a wicket. This prompted Rohit to shift the team’s batting philosophy to one of aggression.
This new approach bore fruit, leading India to triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025. Subsequently, under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, the strategy continued to evolve, with an emphasis on explosive batting.
Dynamic Opening Partnerships
The core of India’s recent T20I success revolved around the openings of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, with Abhishek excelling in the IPL. Together, they posed significant challenges for opposing bowlers. However, the new partnership of Abhishek and Gill, while statistically similar, has excelled on tougher pitches compared to their predecessors.
The Underlying Issue
Since Rohit’s retirement, India has experimented with four openers, including Gill, whose strike rate currently falls short of the modern T20I standard. While discussions about Gill playing a stabilizing role similar to Virat Kohli’s continue, one wonders if such an anchor is necessary given India’s depth in batting.
The Impact of Gill’s Inclusion
Gill’s inclusion has significantly altered the batting order, affecting other players’ performances. Though the impact was less noticeable during the Asia Cup, it became clearer in the recent series against Australia, where players like Sanju Samson, who was finding his rhythm as an opener, have had to adapt their roles.
Assessing Gill’s Contribution
While advocates argue that Gill provides stability, evidence supporting the notion that others cannot anchor when needed is lacking. Despite his undeniable talent and future captaincy potential, shifting him to T20I dominance poses the risk of creating undue pressure. Therefore, India’s gamble on Gill may yield results momentarily but risks undermining their established T20I approach.
