RCB ‘GOAT’ defends Shubman Gill from criticism over horrible T20I performances

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has come to Shubman Gill’s defence after the India vice-captain suffered another failure in the second T20I in Melbourne. De Villiers stated that Gill may not be accustomed to the bounce in Australian conditions and added that even top players can go through lean patches.

Gill managed only five runs from 10 balls in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, October 31. He had recorded scores of 10, 9, and 24 in the ODI series against Australia. Notably, the opening batter scored an unbeaten 37 off just 20 deliveries in the washed-out opener in Canberra.

Maybe He's Not Accustomed to Bounce - AB de Villiers on Shubman Gill

Speaking on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers admitted that Shubman Gill is going through a lean patch. He stated that Gill might still be adjusting to the extra bounce in Australian conditions, adding that he cannot deliver every single time.

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“There are good wickets in Australia. Maybe he’s not completely accustomed to the kind of bounce. There must be something, or he’s just human… We expect Shubman to score runs every single day,” de Villiers said.

Shubman Gill scored only 169 runs across nine matches at an average of 24.14 and an impressive strike rate of 148.25. He returned to the T20I team during the 2025 Asia Cup, where he managed just 127 runs in seven innings at an average of 21.17 without a single half-century.

Shubman Gill Is Going Through a Lean Patch - AB de Villiers

The 41-year-old stated that Gill will bounce back after his struggles in Australia. He said that the issue is likely mental rather than technical. De Villiers added that if any technical flaw does exist, Gill has the discipline to work it out in the nets.

“So, maybe Shubman Gill is going through a patch like that, and he’ll work it out, guys. He’s a class player, class leader, and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will be back. I think it’s more of a mental thing than technical."

"If it’s technical, he’ll get to the nets and sort it out. I don’t see any reflex. Yes, the performance is not there in the recent and short-term past, but there is plenty of cricket ahead. Plenty to look forward to, and it’s just up to him to sort of freshen up,” he added.

India Defeated by Australia in 2nd T20I in Melbourne

Australia defeated India by four wickets in Melbourne. India suffered a collapse inside the powerplay and could score only 125. Abhishek Sharma scored 68 off 37, while Harshit Rana added 35 runs. Josh Hazlewood recorded bowling figures of 3 for 13.

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head added a 51-run opening stand. Marsh scored 46 off 26 as the hosts completed the chase in just 13.2 overs. Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets each.

The Suryakumar Yadav-led team now trails 1-0 in the five-match series. They must win the third T20I in Hobart on Sunday, November 2, to keep the series alive.

Also read: India legend accuses Gautam Gambhir of shattering Sanju Samson’s confidence