Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has identified a crucial role for Shubman Gill in the national T20I side, drawing parallels with the legendary Virat Kohli. Dasgupta believes the young vice-captain must step up to become the consistent anchor, allowing the explosive stroke-makers around him to play freely.
The Kohli Blueprint for Gill
Dasgupta's analysis comes at a time when Gill's returns in the shortest format have been below his usual high standards. Since his return to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup, where he was appointed deputy to captain Suryakumar Yadav, Gill has scored only 291 runs in 15 innings. This output, as Dasgupta implies, doesn't reflect the batter's immense talent and reputation.
"For me, Shubman's role is very different," Dasgupta explained in an interview. "Most of the other players are stroke-players. So it is a kind of role that Virat played so well for years—holding one end while everyone plays around him." He elaborated that Gill should view himself as the pivot, the fulcrum of the batting lineup, prioritizing consistency over a sky-high strike rate, much like Kohli did during his peak T20 years.
World Cup Preparations and Form Concerns
The timing of this advice is critical. Reigning champions India will begin their T20 World Cup title defence against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, 2025. With limited matches left before the global event, form is a key concern, not just for Gill but also for captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Dasgupta acknowledged that while the players themselves might not be overly bothered, the team management would ideally want both key batters to start firing. "If you want them to be fearless, that will come with a price, and that price is consistency. That's one thing you have to be mindful about," he stated. However, he expressed confidence in their abilities, suggesting it's only a matter of time before they regain their touch.
Broader Cricket Discussions
Beyond the T20I discourse, Dasgupta also weighed in on other hot topics in Indian cricket. On the debate about split coaching following India's Test series whitewash in South Africa, he was unequivocal. He termed such ideas "band-aid solutions" and called for a deeper, more rounded strategy to address the red-ball team's challenges, warning against knee-jerk reactions.
Regarding the future of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leading into the 2027 ODI World Cup, Dasgupta dismissed any doubts about their credentials, calling them "giants of the game." The bigger question, he noted, is sustainability. He welcomed their participation in domestic cricket like the Vijay Hazare Trophy and suggested they continue playing competitive cricket globally to maintain form.
Finally, commenting on Chennai Super Kings' acquisition of Sanju Samson, Dasgupta advised the franchise management to integrate him slowly into the leadership group rather than forcing a leadership role on him immediately, allowing him to settle into the new setup first.
