Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes that India’s T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill, currently struggling in the shortest format, needs to emulate the role Virat Kohli played by consistently
anchoring one end.
The Indian Test and ODI captain, who rejoined the T20I setup during the Asia Cup and was named deputy to Suryakumar Yadav, has only managed 291 runs in 15 innings, a performance not reflective of his reputation.
“For me Shubman’s role is very different, because if you see most of the other players are stoke players, so it is a kind of role that Virat played so well and did so well through the years, that is holding on one end while everyone plays around,” Deep was quoted as saying to PTI.
He further mentioned that Gill should be the focal point around whom the rest of the batting lineup revolves. “I think I see Shubman in that role that Virat played. He is that fulcrum that everyone plays around him, not necessarily a high strike rate as others but consistent than the others that is the role that I see,” he added.
Defending champions India will commence their T20 World Cup title defence against the USA in Mumbai on February 7. Dasgupta feels both captain Suryakumar Yadav and Gill, who are struggling for runs, should focus on spending more time at the crease.
“I don’t think it will be bothering them, but ideally you would want them (Gill and Sky) to start firing again. If you want them to be fearless, that will come with a price and that price being consistency. That’s one thing that you have to be mindful about,” he said.
“But there will be concern and we would ideally want Surya and everyone to be in form and unfortunately we don’t have many matches before the World Cup. But they are good enough, hopefully it’s just a matter of time.”
Format-Wise Boss?
Regarding the debate on split coaching for the Indian team after the humiliating Test series whitewash against South Africa, Dasgupta termed it a short-term fix and stressed the need for a comprehensive solution for the red-ball side.
“Those are like band-aid solutions, right? I think where Indian Test team is, I think we need a deeper solution, a more rounded solution than just band-aid,” he said. “I think we, it’s like you’re treating the symptoms, right? So I think it’ll be a knee-jerk reaction to just think about those things. I don’t know whether that might happen or not happen, but that’s not how I see it.”
Ro-Ko Future
On the prospects of India’s batting veterans, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, heading into the 2027 World Cup, he said there was never any doubt about their abilities.
“I think most of the people never had a doubt in terms of what they can do or what they can. I mean, they’re absolute giants of the game. So there was, I would be quite foolish to doubt their credentials,” he said.
“The big question is sustainability. I mean, I’m glad they’re playing Vijay Hazare and I hope they keep playing till 2027. Comparative cricket where it’s domestic in India, maybe outside, maybe play in England in the summer. And obviously, there would be international games from now until 2027”
Regarding Chennai Super Kings signing star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, Deep believes the management should not rush him into a leadership role but allow him to settle in and gradually integrate into the setup.
“Obviously, he would be part of the leadership group but then I would like to see him be eased into that rather than forced into it,” he said.
(With inputs from Agencies)
