Group India registered a complete win over South Africa within the third T20I, however vice-captain Shubman Gill as soon as once more got here below scrutiny for his run-a-ball knock of 28. The match was performed on Sunday, December 14, on the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
Requested to bat first, South Africa had been bowled out for 117 in 20 overs. In reply, Abhishek Sharma supplied a flying begin, smashing a brisk 35 off 18 balls, which included three fours and three sixes. Nevertheless, his opening accomplice Gill, coming off a string of low scores, appeared quick on confidence and managed 28 from 28 deliveries. India ultimately sealed a seven-wicket victory with 25 balls to spare.
Regardless of India taking a 2-1 lead within the collection with two matches remaining, Gill’s kind has been a priority. The opener has scored simply 32 runs in three matches to date within the collection. General in 2025, the 26-year-old has gathered 291 runs from 15 T20I innings at a median of 24.25 and a strike charge of 137.26, with a highest rating of 47.
As Gill continues to battle for consistency within the shortest format, we check out three explanation why India should contemplate dropping the vice-captain for the fourth T20I towards the Proteas, scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, in Lucknow.
#1 Struggling to suit into India’s T20 setup
Since returning to the T20I aspect as vice-captain on the 2025 Asia Cup, Shubman Gill has struggled to suit into India’s T20 setup. Below head coach Gautam Gambhir, the Males in Blue have embraced a high-intent, attacking method.
Abhishek Sharma has flourished in that position, scoring at a exceptional strike charge of 185.7 within the powerplay and smashing 44 sixes. Gill, nevertheless, operates otherwise. He often takes time to settle earlier than shifting gears, an method that has typically clashed with India’s present attacking template. When Gill has tried to match Sharma’s tempo, he has appeared uncomfortable and has paid the value.
In 15 T20Is this yr, Shubman Gill has struck at 147.8 however has been dismissed eight occasions within the powerplay, managing simply two sixes in that section. With Gill alternating between preserving his wicket and rising the scoring charge, consistency has eluded him.
Having been given a sustained run, the upcoming T20I towards South Africa presents a chance for India to evaluate different choices and contemplate pairing Abhishek Sharma with a unique opening accomplice.
#2 Sanju Samson’s superior numbers put Shubman Gill below strain
One other issue placing Shubman Gill below strain is the presence of Sanju Samson. Earlier than Gill’s return, Samson opened alongside Abhishek Sharma and carried out effectively in that position. Since Gill moved again to the highest of the order on the Asia Cup, Samson was pushed down the batting lineup and ultimately misplaced his place to Jitesh Sharma.
With Gill persevering with to battle, having not scored a fifty in 15 innings this yr, there’s a case for Samson to return as an opener. Samson has opened in 17 T20Is for India, scoring 522 runs at a median of 32.63 and a strike charge of 178.77, together with three tons of and one fifty.
Shubman Gill, who has opened in all 36 of his profession T20Is, has scored 869 runs at a median of 28.03 and a strike charge of 138.59, together with three fifties and one century. These numbers recommend that Samson has been barely simpler within the opener’s position and could possibly be thought-about for a return.
#3 Vice-captaincy shouldn’t defend Gill from being dropped
Whereas Shubman Gill serves because the vice-captain of the aspect, his main duty is to supply strong begins on the prime of the order, a task by which the 26-year-old has struggled to constantly meet expectations.
The workforce has carried out effectively below Suryakumar Yadav’s management and consists of skilled gamers like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Because of this, his vice-captaincy shouldn’t function a defend towards being dropped, because the workforce’s general efficiency and stability should take precedence.
At current, the Punjab batter is just not assembly the workforce’s necessities, and India ought to contemplate benching him for the upcoming T20I towards South Africa. This is able to permit the aspect to again in-form gamers and deal with constructing a balanced mixture forward of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Edited by Dev Sharma
