Former India batsman Sanjay Bangar has underlined the importance of clearly defining Shubman Gill’s role at the top of the order and urged the opener to focus on sound cricket strikes rather than chasing big hits. Bangar believes Gill’s value lies in providing stability, especially with explosive batsmen like Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma and Shivam Dube waiting in the middle and lower order. Speaking about JioStar, Bangar said Gill should be tasked with clearing the new ball, handling difficult bounces and absorbing early pressure in tight or low-scoring contests. “I would elaborate on his role: no need for big shots. Stick to the right cricket shots when you have so many fast bowlers behind you. Lay the platform, especially in crunch situations or low-scoring games. India need someone who can handle the new ball and survive early breakthroughs like first-ball dismissals,” Bangar said.
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The comments come after Gill endured a tough start to the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa. He managed just four runs in the opener and was dismissed for a golden duck in the second as the series is level at 1-1 heading into Sunday’s third T20I in Dharamsala. Gill’s recent numbers have raised concerns. In his last 14 T20I innings, he has scored 263 runs at an average of 23.90 and a strike rate of 142.93, figures that fall short of expectations given his stature. India’s earlier dominance at the top following the T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 and early 2025 was fueled by the opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. The duo averaged 33.43 in 16 innings and scored at an astonishing rate of 193.84, creating strong middle and death-over returns. The change in strategy saw Gill replace Samson at the top, with the selectors eyeing him as a future captain across all formats. However, the Gill-Abhishek combination is yet to live up to its promise. While their numbers look healthy on paper, the partnership has yet to translate into a consistent impact for India.
