Former India captain and selector Kris Srikkanth blamed Rohit Sharma for Shubman Gill’s failures in Australia. Gill managed only 10, 9 and 24 runs across three ODIs losing the series 1-2. Srikkanth believes Gill felt enormous pressure replacing someone as successful as Rohit in captaincy.
Why Did Shubman Gill Struggle as Captain?
Gill took over ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma who was stripped of the role controversially. The 25-year-old couldn’t handle the hope that came with replacing a legend like Rohit. Srikkanth noticed Gill’s body language showed anxiety and tension throughout the series, which was clearly visible.
“After performing in England, probably he is also putting pressure on himself. He shouldn’t do that and just play his game. He actually played well today but just got a superb delivery from Hazlewood.
“More than Shubman Gill getting himself out, it was a wicket-taking delivery that got him. But he does look to be under pressure, just observing his body language because he has replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain, while also opening alongside him,” Srikkanth said.
Rohit won Player of the Series scoring 202 runs with knocks of 73 and 121 not out. His outstanding performances added more pressure on Gill who always looked lost at the crease. Competition from players like Yashasvi Jaiswal wanting his spot made things worse for Gill mentally.
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What Did Srikkanth Say About the Situation?
Srikkanth said Gill should forget pressure and play his natural attacking game like before. The former selector believes Gill has immense talent but overthinks everything now as captain. Gill captained well against England in Tests earlier, but ODI captaincy seems different for him.
“He’ll get over it as he’s a fantastic player. He should just play his normal game because he’s getting his strides and shots right. He’s just getting out, that’s the only thing. So once he produces a couple of big knocks at home against South Africa, he’ll be set again,” he added.
Srikkanth remains hopeful that Gill will bounce back from this rough patch soon enough. He urged Gill to stop worrying about Rohit’s shadow and focus on his strengths.
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How Did Others Perform in the Series?
Virat Kohli got two ducks before smashing 74 not out in the final match. Srikkanth praised Kohli’s mental strength to handle pressure and deliver when it mattered most. Rohit’s fitness change, losing 11kg, also caught attention proving his dedication to the team still.
India needs Gill to find form quickly before bigger tournaments arrive next year.
