Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has outlined a specific and crucial role for Shubman Gill in the national T20I team, drawing parallels with the legendary Virat Kohli. Dasgupta believes that for India to succeed, especially in the upcoming T20 World Cup, Gill needs to embrace the responsibility of being the batting lineup's anchor.
The Kohli Blueprint for Gill
Dasgupta's analysis stems from Gill's recent form in the shortest format. Since his return to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup and his appointment as vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav, Gill has scored only 291 runs in 15 innings, a tally considered below his established potential. According to Dasgupta, Gill's role is distinct because he is surrounded by explosive stroke-makers.
"For me, Shubman's role is very different," Dasgupta told PTI Videos. "If you see, most of the other players are stroke players. So it is a kind of role that Virat played so well for years—holding on to one end while everyone plays around him." He elaborated that Gill should become the pivot, the consistent fulcrum allowing others to bat freely around him, even if his strike rate isn't as high as his teammates'.
World Cup Preparations and Broader Concerns
With India set to begin their T20 World Cup title defence against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, 2026, Dasgupta expressed a desire for both skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Gill to find form quickly. He acknowledged the limited matches before the global event but backed their quality to shine through.
Shifting focus to the Test arena, Dasgupta commented on the debate around split coaching following India's recent Test series whitewash in South Africa. He termed such ideas "band-aid solutions" and stressed the need for a deeper, more comprehensive strategy to revive the red-ball team's fortunes, warning against knee-jerk reactions.
On Veterans, Samson, and Sustainability
Discussing the future of batting icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leading into the 2027 ODI World Cup, Dasgupta said there was never any doubt about their legendary credentials. "The big question is sustainability," he noted, expressing hope that their participation in domestic cricket like the Vijay Hazare Trophy would aid their long-term plans.
Finally, on Chennai Super Kings acquiring Sanju Samson, Dasgupta advised the franchise management to integrate him into the leadership group gradually rather than rushing him into a major captaincy role immediately, allowing him to settle into the new setup first.
