Shubman Gill’s hopes of representing India in the upcoming T20 World Cup have been dealt a blow due to his inconsistent form. The Gujarat Titans captain, who was named in the reserves list, has lost his spot in the 15-member squad to Rajasthan Royals’ Yashasvi Jaiswal. Gill’s performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 has been below par, with the opener managing only 320 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 140.96. This underwhelming performance has seen him slip to 15th position in the Orange Cap race, making it unlikely for him to retain the title he won last year.
In addition to his struggles on the field, Gill’s captaincy has also come under scrutiny. Since taking over the role from Hardik Pandya, who left for Mumbai Indians, Gill has failed to guide Gujarat Titans to consistent success. The team currently languishes in eighth place in the IPL 2024 points table with eight points from 10 games.
While Gill’s on-field performance has been disappointing, his off-field demeanor has drawn attention. In a recent viral video shared by Gujarat Titans, Gill can be seen greeting Virat Kohli and the RCB star jokes, ‘Badi jaldi aaya practice mei (You came so early for practice)!’ Kohli’s playful banter highlights the camaraderie between the two players, but it also serves as a reminder of Gill’s struggles on the field.
The selectors’ decision to overlook Gill for the T20 World Cup squad is an indication of his current form. The opener has not been the same since suffering a bout of dengue in the early stages of the ODI World Cup last year. His captaincy with Gujarat Titans also needs maturity. With time running out, Gill will be hoping to turn things around and lead his team to a strong finish in the IPL 2024.
