You need Shubman Gill in T20I side: Former India cricketers explain vice-captain's utility after 4th T20I

Published - 07 Nov 2025, 11:59 IST | Updated - 07 Nov 2025, 12:22 IST

Former India fast bowler Varun Aaron explained that Shubman Gill's technique and game awareness make him a crucial batter in the T20 side, especially when the conditions are not conducive to batting. This assessment came after the Punjab batter played a fighting knock of 46 runs off 39 balls in the fourth T20I against Australia at the Carrara Oval in Queensland on Thursday, November 6.

The surface was a bit two-paced, and the bounce was also on the uneven side. Shubman got off to a quick start in the powerplay but decided to drop anchor after understanding that it wouldn't be easy for the new batters to score freely from the get-go.

"The thing with Gill is that when conditions don't favour batting, you can always put your money on Shubman Gill because of his technique, because of his poise, and because of his game awareness. He knows exactly what wicket offers, what kind of stroke play, and he plays according to that. So you need somebody like Shubman Gill in the T20 setup," Aaron said while speaking to the broadcasters after the game.

"When people raise questions about Shubman Gill being in the T20 setup, it never makes sense to me because this is what he gives you when everybody else fails on a wicket that is slightly difficult compared to the other wickets in this whole series. He gives you a 46, which is worth its weight in gold," he added.

Irfan Pathan said that Shubman looked to time the ball to score his boundaries instead of going for reckless shots, and that stood him in good stead. The former India all-rounder said that Shubman's controlled knock helped the other batters go about their batting freely.

"I want to focus on the key players, especially Shubman Gill. In my previous video, I had pointed out two things: the team paid special attention to Shubman Gill's batting. He did not try to hit big shots recklessly; he focused on timing. Initially, he concentrated on placement rather than power. He looked for boundaries through timing. That's his style, and if he maintains that, he will score runs. Under pressure, he gave a good start even without scoring a fifty. This ensured that the other batsmen kept scoring at a good pace," said Pathan.

"When Suryakumar Yadav came in, he played big shots, hitting a couple of sixes, including a strong sweep, and maintained an excellent strike rate. This shows that Shubman Gill has his own role and style, focusing on timing, and it paid off," he added.

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India won the fourth T20I by 48 runs on Thursday to go 2-1 up in the five-match series. The fifth and final T20I takes place at The Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday, November 8.