Sunil Gavaskar gives blunt advice to Shubman Gill after T20 World Cup setback

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar gave blunt advice to the Indian youngster Shubman Gill on his way back from Ahmedabad, since they boarded the same flight on return. He has also defended Shubman Gill following his ugly snub from the T20 World Cup squad.

Shubman Gill's snub from the Indian team for the ICC T20 World Cup has not only amazed Indian fans but also some of the cricket greats. One of them is none other than the Indian genius Sunil Gavaskar.

While many have been pleased by the selections made by the Indian Men's Selection committee, some have even praised Shubman Gill's exit from the World Cup squad; some, like the Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, have backed Gill.

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“Not a bit of a surprise, it is a surprise,” opines Sunil Gavaskar.

After Gill's omission, Gavaskar seemed to have been genuinely taken aback, as he called it a shock on air when the squad was discussed. Gavaskar began by admitting he didn’t see it coming. “Not a bit of a surprise, it is a surprise.”

“Because he’s a class act. Quality batter, who’s had a fabulous season with the bat. Yes, I know he struggled for these few matches against South Africa. But you know, class always tells in the end. You know, form is always a little temporary,” said Gavaskar.

The former Indian captain tried to reason with Shubman Gill's lack of form in the format. He mentioned that the Indian player returned after a long layoff, and that explains his lack of rhythm, since one has to just come into the shorter format and go all 'bang-bang.'

"So the T20 format is not something strange for him,” said Gavaskar

Shubman Gill has often been criticized for being comparatively slower than the other players who bat during the powerplay; to this, Sunil Gavaskar explained that the method could look slower when he doesn't get to time the ball sweetly.

Gavaskar opined that Shubman Gill is inclined to be more of a Test cricketer and has an intent to play along the ground. He mentioned that when it does not come easily onto the bat, then it is quite challenging to play different kinds of shots to get runs in T20s.

We’ve seen in the IPL, he’s very, very good. So the T20 format is not something strange for him,” said Gavaskar.

"Ghar pe kisiko bolo nazar utar de," Gavaskar turns on fatherly mode for Shubman Gill

When an injured Shubman Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav returned from Ahmedabad, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar also took the same flight and came back along with the Indian stars.

He revealed that he gave Shubman Gill some advice, and it was not to improve his game or anything concerned with his technique. He mentioned Gill's injuries as a bit freakish, and hence, he should cast off the evil eye from him.

"I said that some of these injuries that he’s had have been a little freakish. And therefore you know that neck injury and then, of course, the knee injury. I said, Ghar pe kisiko bolo nazar utar de. You know, because we believe in that. We believe in ki kabhi kabhi nazar lag jaati hain,” said Gavaskar, turning his grandfatherly mode on for the Indian cricketer.

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