Shubman Gill’s place in India’s T20I XI has come under the scanner once again after he fell for only four runs against South Africa at Cuttack on Tuesday (December 9).

Gill’s return to the T20I fold as deputy during the Asia Cup 2025 didn’t yield best of returns as he scored only 127 runs in seven innings at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate of 151.19. The right-hander failed to make a mark in the subsequent five T20Is on the tour of Australia, amassing 132 runs at a strike rate of 136.08 without a half-century.

Reflecting on his recent failure in the first T20I against South Africa, former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra claimed that Gill is not being able to play his natural game and it has brought about his downfall in the shortest format.

At Cuttack, the 26-year-old showed attacking intent against Lungi Ngidi by charging down the wicket, but could not get the timing right and was caught by Marco Jansen at mid-off.               

Sharing his two cents on Gill’s new approach, Chopra said, because the player who opened before him, which was Sanju Samson, was playing an explosive brand of cricket at the top of the order, the designated vice-captain is trying to emulate the same.

“What is Shubman Gill trying to do? I ask this question because it seems like he doesn’t play like this, but is trying to play like that. Why would he be doing that? It seems like he is too hasty to hit. The way he got out in Cuttack, he hit a four off the first ball, and then he jumped out and hit the next ball,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“What could be the reasons behind that? He is feeling slightly obliged. Sanju Samson was the player who was opening before him. Sanju Samson used to score runs at a strike rate of 175. He scored three centuries as well. Of course, he got out early as well, but has three centuries to his name and a strike rate of 175. You can’t take that away from Sanju Samson,” he added.

According to Aakash Chopra, the Men in Blue are striving to post gigantic totals in recent times and it is adding to the pressure on Gill.

“India was also running close to 250-275. He is feeling the pressure of two things. Firstly, because Sanju Samson plays like that, he too should play like that because he has come in his place, and that is always spoken about,” Gill stated.

“Social media must be on fire today as well, although you have to cut him some slack because he was playing his first competitive game since the neck sprain he had at the Eden Gardens. So you can be slightly undercooked. However, social media won’t agree with that,” he remarked.