Shubman Gill‘s captaincy impressed former BCCI chief selector Saba Karim during the T20I series against Zimbabwe. However, the talented opener lacked consistency as a batter. Gill may have topped the run-scoring charts with 170 runs in five innings, but failed to dominate the opposition bowlers. He was the only Indian batter to feature in all five matches, yet players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad made more impactful contributions in fewer innings.

The talented Indian opener was initially left out of the T20 World Cup squad, but the selectors expressed confidence in him as the future of Indian cricket. They subsequently named him captain for the first series following the team’s successful campaign in the USA and West Indies. With senior players like Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah absent, the BCCI decided to entrust the young opener with a significant leadership opportunity.

In his first stint as Indian skipper, Gill captained the team impressively, guiding India to a 4-1 series win despite an initial loss in the opening T20I. Former BCCI chief selector Karim praised Gill’s ability to handle pressure, though he noted the young captain’s inconsistency with the bat.

“While Shubman Gill performed admirably as captain, his batting lacked the consistency I had expected. As a young captain, the pressure of losing the first match was likely a contributing factor. However, Gill’s captaincy was commendable, even as his batting fell short of the high standards he has set for himself,” remarked Karim on Sony Sports.

The former wicketkeeper-batter praised Yashasvi Jaiswal’s impressive performance, as the young player got going immediately, delivering strong results from his very first match of the series, despite joining the team partway through the tour.

“Despite the challenges, Gill efficiently used his players. While Jaiswal scored runs, he did not get the opportunity to play in the World Cup. When a player hasn’t batted or played matches for an extended period, it’s difficult for them to immediately regain their form. Yet, we witnessed Jaiswal overcome these obstacles and excel,” he added.