Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has issued a stern warning to Shubman Gill. Butt believes that the young Indian opener's position in the ODI team could be under threat if he continues to underperform.
Shubman Gill Under Pressure
With Yashasvi Jaiswal knocking on the door, Gill must maintain consistency to cement his place. Gill's struggles were evident in the first ODI against Sri Sri Lanka where he fell cheaply despite facing 35 deliveries. His inability to adapt to slow, turning pitches has become a recurring issue. While he has shown glimpses of brilliance, his tendency to throw away starts has raised concerns.
Salman Butt points out Shubman Gill's weakness
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has heaped praise on Shubman Gill, labeling him as one of the world's best batsmen in the past 18 months. The Pakistani cricketer highlighted Gill's consistent performances during this period. However, Butt also expressed concern over Gill's recent batting pattern. He noted that the Indian opener has been consistently dismissed in the twenties or thirties, suggesting a vulnerability in this scoring range. The former captain believes that Gill needs to address this issue to maintain his position in the Indian team.
"Shubman Gill has performed a lot in the last 1-1.5 years. He is among the world's top batsmen and is very consistent. But if you see his batting since the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, he has given away a lot of starts," Butt said on his Youtube channel.
"He has scored 20-25 and has got out. He has played a lot in the air and has been caught out inside the circle. He has been caught at point on the uppish drives as well. He loses concentration quickly. It seems like between the 20-30 runs, it is his vulnerable period.," he added.
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Shubman Gill's Rise to vice-captaincy
Shubman Gill's appointment as India's vice-captain for both T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka is a testament to his rapid rise in international cricket. The selectors have clearly identified him as a potential future captain, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar publicly expressing confidence in Gill's leadership abilities. Gill's exceptional ODI record, featuring an impressive average of 60.18 and six centuries, underscores his batting prowess. In contrast, the talented Yashasvi Jaiswal, while excelling in Tests and T20Is, is yet to make his ODI debut. With his aggressive batting style, Jaiswal is seen as a potential impact player in the 50-over format.
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