Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has lauded Shubman Gill’s impressive comeback to form, urging the talented batsman to consistently leverage his natural game, which is built on timing and control. Pathan’s remarks follow Gill’s composed batting displays in the recent T20I series against Australia, which concluded with India securing the series victory. Gill, who had faced some criticism after a slow start to his captaincy and a few low scores in T20 internationals, rediscovered his fluent strokeplay in the latter stages of the Australian tour. He played a pivotal role in the fourth T20I with a well-compiled 46 runs from 39 balls on a challenging surface, anchoring the innings and paving the way for India’s series-clinching win. The momentum carried into the fifth T20I, where Gill remained unbeaten on 29 off 16 deliveries, showcasing his aggressive intent with six boundaries and an exceptional strike rate. Pathan highlighted Gill’s adaptability and understanding of game situations as his core strengths. He specifically advised Gill to always rely on his inherent ‘timing template’, stating that this is the key differentiator in his batting. Gill’s return as vice-captain in the T20I format had come with considerable pressure, but his recent consistent performances have re-established his importance in the top order. Despite being rested for the T20 World Cup, Gill is considered a vital component of India’s future white-ball strategy, with his consistent performances across formats underscoring his value.
