IND vs SA: Ravi Ashwin gives blunt verdict on Shubman Gill’s struggle in T20Is, wants him to get dropped after…

Shubman Gill has struggled to score runs in the T20Is ever since his return to the T20I team in Asia Cup 2025.

Former Indian Cricket Team player Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his take on Shubman Gill’s struggles in the T20Is. He said that although the vice-captain cannot be removed from the XI, if he fails in the entire five games against South Africa, then management will have to take a call.

Things are getting bad to worse for Shubman Gill in the T20Is. The opening batter, who is yet to score a fifty in the format since his return, has carried on his poor form with the bat in the ongoing series against South Africa, which comprises five games. 

Shubman Gill has failed in the three games, registering scored of 4, 0, and 28. In the third match in Dharamsala, he looked in good touch and started well but lost ploy in the middle, failing to take his team to win as they were chasing a low total of under 120.

If he does not perform in the five games, then a decision will have to be made – Ravi Ashwin on Shubman Gill

Gill has now come under the firing line and has made Ravi Ashwin concerned as well. He feels that removing Gill and bringing in Sanju Samson in the middle of the series will be tough for management. But said that if he fails in the entire series, then a decision will have to be made.

“I am a little concerned,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat. “Shubman is not only the opener but also the vice-captain. How will you remove the vice-captain? It is going to be an incredibly tough decision. If you have to make that decision, inside this series you can’t bring Samson because it does not look nice to drop the vice-captain.

“You can ask whether vice-captains have been dropped in the past or not. But he has been taken and should be given a fair run. If he does not perform in the five games, then a decision will have to be made,” he added.

Ravi Ashwin added that India should know their best XI and best squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 by now. He added that even if Gill score runs in the last two games, they shouldn’t come at less strike rate.  

“You should know your best XI and best squad (for T20 WC) by now. I don’t think there are any doubts about the bowling. That department is sealed. Another good message is that Harshit Rana is showing what he is capable of. He is executing what he is good at. 

“The only question is, if Shubman doesn’t make the runs, should he be there or should Samson be playing. The only unfortunate thing from here on I do not want to see is Gill making runs at a lesser strike rate. That should not happen.”

The fourth IND vs SA T20I will take place in Lucknow and Gill will be under massive pressure to score runs. 

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