Shubman Gill’s 50-over form has polarised opinion. People have questioned his ability to lead the 50-over team from the front, and he has even been subjected to social media trolling over the last few months. However, that has not deterred Gill from standing up and taking control. Much like what he did in England last year during India’s five-Test red-ball tour, so far in this series against Afghanistan it has been Gill who has looked in complete control. Panache, doggedness and, of course, sublime skill, Gill is gradually exerting himself in the 50-over team in what is a very good sign for India, with 15 months to go before the 2027 World Cup.
It is true that Gill has not done much in this format since taking over as skipper. Except in one or two games where he has batted beautifully, his performances have been modest at best. Also, as he is India’s captain in red-ball cricket, the question that often comes up is whether putting too much on Gill is impacting his consistency. Straight after the IPL, where he played in the final, Gill is now leading India in this series and that merits asking how his workload will be managed going forward.
Sport is always about performance and that is what will decide Gill’s future in the format. At the moment, he seems to be getting back to his absolute best when he can hardly put a foot wrong. It is much like his IPL season, during which he scored plenty of runs at a healthy strike rate.
With India not really having a set 50-over template, this series was very important for Gill. While, in red-ball cricket, he is the future of Indian cricket and is firmly established in the leadership position, the 50-over game is somewhat different. Gill has not really done something that makes him stand out in the format, and there are players like Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings. The 154 should settle things for him and you would want to see that with India’s captain. You would want him to be in control, for only then can he work in tandem with Gautam Gambhir in creating a champion combination for the World Cup.
Despite the innings, Gill continues to attract flak on social media. It is as if a section of fans do not want the India captain to do well. If you praise him, you are automatically labelled PR. Why it is so defies logic. But the truth is Gill is one of the most trolled players on social media for no fault of his own. Maybe the fan clubs for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and others see him as a threat. They realise that he is the future and will take away the mantle from some of these legends, and hence he is the subject of intense trolling at the drop of a hat. So far, it has not bothered Gill and he has only become better. The 154 was evidence that Gill is indeed on the right track. For himself and for India.
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