Shubman Gill’s Comeback Praised: Irfan Pathan Urges Sticking to Timing

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has applauded Shubman Gill’s recent resurgence in form, particularly highlighting the young batter’s composed approach. Pathan advises Gill to remain committed to his natural playing style, which is characterized by excellent timing and controlled strokeplay. This praise comes after Gill’s impressive performances in the recent T20I series against Australia, which India ultimately clinched. Following a challenging start to his captaincy debut and a few less-than-ideal T20 innings, Gill found his rhythm again in the final two matches of the tour. On a difficult pitch in Queensland, Gill played a crucial innings of 46 off 39 balls in the fourth T20I, providing stability to the Indian batting lineup and laying the groundwork for a victory that secured a series lead. He continued this form into the fifth T20I, scoring a rapid 29 off 16 balls with a strike rate of over 181, including six boundaries. Pathan emphasized Gill’s strength in adapting to match situations and urged him to never deviate from his core ‘template’ of timing. Gill’s return to the T20 setup as vice-captain had attracted significant attention and pressure, but his recent knocks have silenced critics and solidified his position. While not part of the T20 World Cup squad, selectors have maintained Gill is integral to India’s future white-ball plans, with his performances across formats consistently demonstrating maturity and capability.