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Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has openly claimed that Shubman Gill is struggling in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 because he is trying to copy the aggressive style of his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma.
Shubman Gill's batting struggles in Asia Cup 2025
Gill made his comeback to T20Is after over a year away and was immediately appointed as India’s vice-captain. The pressure to meet high expectations is evident in his recent scores, 20,10,5,47, and 29 in his last five innings, failing to convert any start into a major score in the tournament so far.
There is a lot of pressure: Mohammad Kaif on Shubman Gill
Kaif suggested that the combined pressure of being a comeback player and the vice-captain is hindering Gill’s ability to find consistency while opening alongside the explosive Sharma. The cricket expert specifically noted that Gill has been attempting to emulate Abhishek’s aggression by playing ultra-aggressive shots, which has disrupted his natural batting rhythm. Kaif believes that Gill's desire to match Abhishek Sharma's high strike rate is the root cause of him losing focus on his own innate game.
Kaif also stated that he witnessed Gill attempting to execute a grounder shot before shifting gears to hit a six, indicating he was willing to take undue risks. Gill then tried to build an innings with singles and doubles, followed by a boundary. According to Kaif, this inconsistent approach suggests Gill feels pressure to play around Abhishek Sharma's strike rate, leading him to lose his own established batting plan.
“There is pressure. He is the vice-captain, and he is also making a comeback. So, there is a lot of pressure. I feel that when I saw him in the first match, he was trying to match Abhishek Sharma. He was like, 'If Abhishek Sharma hits, I'll also take a shot. I'll play ultra-aggressive'. And he got out. Then, after 2 matches, I saw Shubman Gill was trying to hit a grounder shot,” Mohammad Kaif said in a video posted on his Instagram handle.
“He took a risk and hit a six. Then, he moved forward with a single and double. Then, he hit a boundary. So, he is feeling that he has to play around Abhishek Sharma’s strike rate. He has lost his batting plan. He is somewhere playing his own and then copying Abhishek, and that’s the story of the last six games,” he added.
The pressure on Gill is further intensified by the presence of highly talented players like Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma waiting for their opportunity, as former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif pointed out. He noted that the Indian squad is stacked with talent "up till number 8," and the knowledge of this depth and competition is clearly visible in the performance of the young vice-captain.
I feel that he should shut down all the noise: Kaif
Kaif strongly advised Gill to ignore these external pressures and "shut out the noise." He stressed that the key to returning to form is for Gill to focus on his own game, watch the ball closely, and play instinctively. This is the very approach that led to his immense success in the IPL 2025, where he was a dominant force both as a batter and as the captain of the Gujarat Titans.
“I feel that he should shut down all the noise. He should not listen to what others are saying. He should focus on his game. Watch the ball and react to it. This has been his formula and his success mantra in the IPL, and he must continue with that,” he concluded.
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