Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Parsan made bold statements about vice-captain Shubman Gill ahead of the third T20I match against Australia. The cricketer-turned-commentator said Gill will have to convert his starts into big scores, especially with Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting for his chance in this format.
India were bowed out for just 125 runs in 18.4 overs in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on Friday, October 31. Gill scored just 5 runs off 10 deliveries and was dismissed. Australia chased down the target with ease in 13.2 overs and clinched a four-wicket victory.
Shubman Gill has not scored a total of 200 runs – Irfan Parsan
Irfan Parsan said in a video on his YouTube channel that Shubman Gill needs to justify the support he continues to receive from the team management. Parsan pointed out that Gill has failed to score even 200 runs in the last 10 innings and Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting for his opportunity.
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“In the last 10 innings, he hasn’t even reached a total of 200 so the pressure will be on him. He has had chances and he has got support but he needs to convert those chances into performances and that is yet to happen,” Pathan said.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting on the bench. He is an outstanding T20 player that we have seen in the IPL, batting around 160. If a player like that is out while Shubman Gill continues to get chances regularly and still fails to get chances, it will put pressure on him and the team. That is something the management needs to take note of,” he added.
Shubman Gill needs to score consistently – Irfan Parsan
The 41-year-old said Gill’s failure could open the door for Yashasvi Jaiswal. He said Jaiswal’s talent cannot be ignored and added that the youngster has the potential to score 200 runs in ODIs and centuries in T20Is.
“Shubman Gill needs to score runs consistently. That is very important. Otherwise, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is not currently playing ODI or T20 cricket for India, is a very talented player and can do wonders,” Pathan continued.
“He can even score 200 in ODIs. That’s what makes him so good. And he has the ability to score 100 in T20s. So, the absence of a player like him is something that the Indian team needs to take seriously.”
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal stats in T20I
Shubman Gill made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in early 2023. After being absent from the squad for several months, he returned before the Asia Cup and was appointed as Suryakumar Yadav’s substitute.
However, his return was disappointing. He scored 169 runs in nine matches at an average of 24.14 and a strike rate of 148.25. Overall, Gill played 30 T20Is and scored 747 runs at 28.73 with a strike rate of 141.20, including three half-centuries and one century.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal was not included in the squad for the Australia tour despite his impressive performance in T20Is. The attacking left-hander scored 723 runs in 23 matches, including five half-centuries and a century, with a batting average of 36.15 and a strike rate of 164.31.
India are trailing 0-1 in the series after losing to Melbourne and the team will have to win the third T20I to keep the series alive. The series opener was canceled due to rain.
Also read: Arshdeep Singh darkly criticizes Gautam Gambhir in cryptic Instagram story after being dropped from T20I XI