‘Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting’: Shubman Gill put under pressure, issued ultimatum after T20I failures

Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan made a bold statement on vice-captain Shubman Gill ahead of the third T20I match against Australia. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Gill must convert his starts into big scores, especially with Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting for an opportunity in the format.

India were bowled out for just 125 runs in 18.4 overs during the second T20I match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on Friday, October 31. Gill scored only five runs off 10 deliveries before being dismissed. Australia comfortably chased down the target in 13.2 overs to seal a four-wicket victory.

Shubman Gill Hasn’t Even Scored a Total of 200 Runs - Irfan Pathan

In a video on his YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan said that Shubman Gill will have to justify the backing he continues to receive from the team management. Pathan pointed out that Gill has failed to score even 200 runs across his last 10 innings, and Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting for an opportunity.

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“In his last ten innings, he hasn’t even scored a total of 200 runs, so the pressure will be on him. He’s getting opportunities, he’s getting the backing, but he needs to convert those chances into performances, which hasn’t happened yet,” Pathan said.

“You have Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting on the bench, an outstanding T20 player we’ve seen in the IPL, striking at around 160. If a player like that is sitting out while Shubman Gill continues to get regular chances and still can’t make them count, then pressure will build on him and on the team. That’s something the management needs to pay attention to," he added.

Shubman Gill Needs to Score Consistently - Irfan Pathan

The 41-year-old said that Gill’s failures could open the door for Yashasvi Jaiswal. He stated that Jaiswal’s talent cannot be ignored, adding that the youngster has the potential to score double hundreds in ODIs and centuries in T20Is.

“Shubman Gill needs to score consistently, that’s very important. Otherwise, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who isn’t playing ODI or T20 cricket for India right now, is such a talented player that he’s capable of doing wonders," Pathan continued.

"He can even score a double hundred in ODIs, that’s how good he is. And in T20s, he has the ability to score a hundred. So, having a player like him sitting out is something the Indian team needs to pay serious attention to.”

Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Stats in T20Is

Shubman Gill made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in early 2023. After being out of the squad for several months, he was brought back ahead of the Asia Cup and named Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy.

However, his comeback has been underwhelming. He has scored 169 runs across nine matches at an average of 24.14 and a strike rate of 148.25. Overall, Gill has played 30 T20Is, scoring 747 runs at 28.73 with a strike rate of 141.20, including three half-centuries and a century.

Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal was not included in the squad for the Australia tour despite having an impressive T20I record. The attacking left-hander has scored 723 runs in 23 matches at 36.15 and a strike rate of 164.31, including five half-centuries and a century.

With India trailing 0-1 in the series after the Melbourne defeat, the team must win the third T20I to keep the series alive. The opening match of the series had been abandoned due to rain.

Also read: Arshdeep Singh takes sly dig at Gautam Gambhir with cryptic Instagram story after being dropped from T20I XI