Pressure Of Expectation Is Weighing Him Down - Sunil Gavaskar Explains The Reason For Shubman Gill's Struggle In IPL 2021

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar opines that Shubman Gill was bogged down by the pressure of expectations on him, and hence had a sub-standard IPL 2021, which was postponed on Tuesday due to the Covid-19 outbreak in four franchises, including the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Shubman Gill, who was impressive last year in the UAE scoring 440 runs at an average of 33.85, struggled for proper innings this season and managed 132 runs in 7 games at 18.86.

Sunil Gavaskar reckons there the sudden weight of expectation on the shoulders of young Gill after a brilliant debut Test series in Australia hurt his IPL season. In the three Tests Down Under, the opener scored 259 runs averaging 51.80, including a terrific knock of 91 runs in India’s historic victory at the Gabba.

“I think what I feel about Shubman Gill is that suddenly, the pressure of expectation is getting to him. Before this, it was different. He was just a young promising newcomer, but now with the performances in Australia, the expectation is that he is going to score, and maybe that pressure of expectation is weighing him down,” Sunil Gavaskar said while speaking with on Star Sports.

He just needs to relax; he is just a 21-year-old kid: Sunil Gavaskar

The 71-year-old former India opener points out that Shubman Gill is just 21, and needs to relax a bit, and calm himself and focus more on the shots he plays rather than the runs it will fetch him.

“He just needs to relax. He is just a 21-year-old kid. There will be failures and he has to learn from those failures. He’s just got to open and play freely, without worrying about expectations.

“The runs will come if he plays his natural game. Trying to play across the line and trying to score off every delivery because of the pressure of expectation, he’s actually getting himself out,” Sunil Gavaskar asserted.

Shubman Gill had a mediocre home series against England as well. Nonetheless, he is on the flight to England for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand and for the subsequent 5-match Test series against Joe Root’s side. After succeeding against the Aussie bowlers, Gill has the opportunity to mark his dominance against the English pacers.