IPL 2024: GT captaincy affecting Shubman Gill's batting, says Wasim Jaffer

Shubman Gill has scored 29 8 runs in eight games in IPL 2024 for GT so far.

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has said that captaining Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has affected Shubman Gill’s batting in the ongoing season. Gill was named GT captain after Hardik Pandya was traded to Mumbai Indians ahead of the tournament.

Shubman Gill was acquired by GT ahead of the IPL 2022 auction and he has been their best batter in the last two seasons. He scored 483 runs in the 2022 IPL with 4 fifties to his name when the franchise won the tournament.

However, his best performance came in IPL 2023, when he amassed 890 runs with 3 hundreds and 4 fifties at a strike rate of 157.80. He had scored two consecutive centuries as well in the season as GT reached the tournament’s final.

But ahead of IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians lured Hardik Pandya from GT with the promise of captaincy and left the 2022 IPL champions with a huge void to fill. After much deliberation, Shubman Gill was named the captain of the side despite the presence of experienced leaders like Rashid Khan, David Miller, and Kane Williamson in the side.

“He feels pressure”- Wasim Jaffer of Shubman Gill’s poor outing with the bat in IPL 2024

GT have not been at their usual best in the IPL 2024 as they are currently placed sixth on the points table with four wins and four losses. Shubman Gill has not been in the best of form with 298 runs in 8 games with only two fifties and best score of 89*.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer said that Shubman Gill’s batting has been affected by the pressures of captaincy. He also pointed out the absence of Mohammad Shami, out-of-form David Miller and the fact that a successful captain Hardik Pandya left as reasons Gill’s batting has suffered this season.

Jaffer said on ESPNCricinfo: “I think it’s part of it, without a doubt. But this team does look, you know, like Tom said, it looks like he got a few holes with Hardik going out and then Shami not being there. And the form of the batsman, David Miller not finding form. So I feel those are the reason where he feels pressure and he feels that clarity, which he had last season. You know, he went out and played so free flowing, which we think is missing this season.”

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