Former captain Kris Srikkanth questioned how Gill earned the vice-captaincy in T20Is — a format in which he has scored just one fifty in the last two years — and went on to say that his inclusion has affected team balance and created difficulties for players such as Tilak Varma and Samson.
Gill was seen in an intense chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir during training on Wednesday. The 26-year-old will certainly be eager to convert the management’s backing and trust into substantial runs sooner rather than later.
Since returning to the T20I side, the Test and ODI captain has struggled to make an impression. In the ongoing series, Gill has managed only 57 runs in three matches.
India broke the fearsome opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Samson to accommodate Gill at the top in T20Is. While his elevation to vice-captaincy appeared to make him an automatic selection, questions have been raised about the merit of his place in the T20I set-up, particularly given the options available for the opening role.
IND vs AUS, 4th T20I preview: Gold Coast will host the Indian men’s team for the first time as the 20,000-seater Carrara Oval gears up for the crucial fixture. All eyes on Shubman Gill as pressure mounts on the misfiring opener.
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