AUS vs IND 2025: "No one has the right to ask questions after the 2025 Shubman Gill has had" - Ex-India batter after opener's knock in 1st T20I

Published - 29 Oct 2025, 18:56 IST | Updated - 29 Oct 2025, 19:26 IST

Shubman Gill showcased tremendous form during the first T20I between India and Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. He had a dismal outing in the Asia Cup last month. Also, the ODI series against Australia wasn't very fruitful for the Punjab batter. However, he has hit the ground running in the T20Is, scoring a blistering 37 not out off 20 balls, belting four boundaries and one six before the match was abandoned due to rain.

Aakash Chopra noted that there had been some questions about Shubman's appointment as the vice-captain of the Indian T20 setup, which had forced the in-form Sanju Samson to relinquish his role as the team's opener. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator said that Shubman can't be questioned after the kind of year he has had.

"There was no question about his class, and in my opinion, there was no question about his form as well. There was a slight backdrop about the Asia Cup. Sanju Samson was opening. You have been made the vice-captain in T20 cricket, which means you will open now. So Sanju Samson, who has scored three centuries, won't get a chance," the former India opener responded after being asked about Shubman's knock in the first T20I on Star Sports.

"So suddenly you start asking questions. If you write a new story, there are some subtexts to it, there are some questions. It was about how he would move forward after the middling performance in the Asia Cup. Otherwise, no one has the right to ask questions after the 2025 Shubman Gill has had," he added.

Chopra was asked whether Shubman changed anything in his game after the preceding ODI series against Australia, where he aggregated just 43 runs in three innings at an average of 14.33. The former India opener said that he is playing exactly like how he did in the ODI series, looking comfortable and convincing in both formats.

"Actually, nothing has changed. He was trying to bat like this even in the ODIs. Runs weren't scored, but whatever deliveries he played, he looked very comfortable and convincing even in ODI cricket. Your name is written at times on an odd delivery, sometimes you are trying to run too fast, and you get out in the process," he replied.

Rain plays spoilsport, AUS vs IND 1st T20I gets washed out

Chopra also stated that Shubman's knock in Canberra would silence his doubters, who were questioning why he is opening the batting, with Samson already in the side.

"He is at the top of his game currently, whether you see it mentally, physically, technically, or even tactically. 2025 has been Shubman Gill's year. He needed to score runs because if he hadn't scored runs here and hadn't scored runs in two more matches, you and I would have been saying that Sanju was also doing well, so why couldn't you have continued opening with Sanju Samson?" Chopra observed.