Former India opener Aakash Chopra stated that India vice-captain Shubman Gill had batted well in both the T20Is that got rained out in the recent five-match series in Australia.

Shubman Gill performed well with the bat in the two matches that were abandoned due to weather, but struggled in the three matches that were played to completion. He managed to score 132 runs in five games.

“Shubman Gill was batting really well in Canberra, and it rained. After that, he was batting well in the last match in Brisbane, and it rained. Rain came both times he was actually batting well. He looked to be in good form many times in this series, but those many runs weren’t scored.

This tour was like a damp squib for him, where it was expected that he would stamp his authority, but that didn’t happen. In fact, he has come back with just question marks everywhere. I, personally, don’t feel there are question marks. The home series will give us a little more insight, but the questions will remain because the Indian team plays cricket like that,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Chopra criticized the club management for their unclear justification for Samson's removal from the starting lineup following the arrival of vice-captain Shubman Gill and his subsequent exclusion from the starting lineup.

“The biggest question that is looming large is—what have we decided about Sanju Samson? Sanju not playing is a big, big, big question as to why we are doing like that. We played Sanju, and he had done decently as well. I won’t say he had done extraordinarily, but he was okay. You made him bat up the order against Oman, and he scored a fifty,” Chopra said.

On the other hand, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has praised India's T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill's approach and hopes he stays consistent, especially after demonstrating control in the rain-soaked fifth T20I against Australia in Brisbane.

Gill shone in the final match, scoring an undefeated 29 off 16 balls at a strike rate of 181.25. Gill smashed six boundaries while Abhishek Sharma labored before the game was called off due to rain. Pathan believes Gill, a player who adjusts well to changing conditions, is crucial for any squad.

“Shubman Gill’s innings eventually came in the winning cause (in the fourth T20I). You need a player to understand the conditions and play accordingly; that’s Shubman Gill. In the fifth T20I, he left Abhishek behind in the strike rate. Abhishek was struggling, and two of his catches were dropped. But Shubman appeared in control. I hope Shubman doesn’t leave his template. His template is timing," Pathan was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.

Shubman Gill was named vice-captain of India’s T20I team ahead of the Asia Cup in September. His return prompted a significant reshuffle in the playing XI, with Sanju Samson moving from the top order to number five. During the Asia Cup, Gill had made 127 runs in seven matches.