Sipu Jha
Shubman Gill’s rise in Indian cricket has been nothing short of meteoric. Already leading the national side in Tests and ODIs and serving as vice-captain in T20Is, many see him as India’s next all-format captain and face of the team. Yet, in the shortest format, a new narrative seems to be emerging — one where Gill is no longer the dominant figure in his opening pair. Former India pacer Varun Aaron believes that Gill might be finding it unusual to play the supporting role to Abhishek Sharma in T20Is. Speaking on Star Sports’ Follow the Blues, Aaron observed that Gill, once seen as the leader of the duo, now finds himself overshadowed by Abhishek’s explosive batting.
“Gill must be feeling a bit odd because a year or two ago, he was clearly ahead — both in the IPL and in T20Is for India. He’s still scoring runs, but Abhishek is just blowing everyone away with his strike rate,” Aaron said. The former quick added that Gill looked in fine touch during the rain-hit final T20I against Australia, showing his trademark elegance. He also highlighted the complementary nature of their partnership. “Gill plays the calm, composed role — the ice — while Abhishek brings the fire. They balance each other beautifully. In the last match, Gill showed how much class he has. He just needs to hold his shape, and he can play any shot,” Aaron noted. Aaron also praised Abhishek’s adaptability, pointing out how the left-hander has excelled across contrasting conditions. “He’s been Player of the Series both on slow wickets in Dubai and on fast Australian pitches. That shows his ability to adjust. Many players struggle to transition between such extremes, but he’s handled it brilliantly,” Aaron said. Lauding Abhishek’s proactive mindset, Aaron added, “Against Josh Hazlewood in the first two matches, he had a clear plan — stepping out, disturbing his rhythm. Abhishek is finding ways to take bowlers off their plans. Right now, he’s becoming a crucial part of India’s batting. If he gives you a good start, you’re already halfway to winning.” With Abhishek continuing to deliver high-impact starts and Gill anchoring from the other end, India’s opening combination looks promising. How the team management nurtures this partnership could define the next phase of India’s T20 approach.
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