New Delhi: India vice-captainShubman Gill failed to impress on his comeback after injury. He had a brief stay at the crease, getting out for just four
runs in the first T20I of the five-match series against South Africa. The Indian opener was dismissed on the third ball of the first over.
Gill initially looked in decent touch as he sent Lungi Ngidi’s second delivery racing to the boundary. Driving a wide ball outside off, he pierced the gap past deep point, briefly raising hopes of a solid start for the hosts. However, the optimism was short-lived.
On the very next delivery, Ngidi bowled a length ball on middle and leg. Gill stepped out, made room, and attempted to go over mid-off but failed to time the shot. He ended up chipping the ball into the air, with Marco Jansen moving a few steps to his right to complete a simple catch and send Gill back to the dugout.
Ngidi wasn’t done there, as he struck again in the third over by dismissing Suryakumar Yadav. Gill’s early dismissal triggered criticism on social media, with several users questioning his recent form in T20 cricket.
Social media reaction
Fans questioned Gill’s place after another brief stay, with jokes flying about how little time he spends at the crease in T20s. Many felt the format doesn’t suit him, arguing others like Jaiswal, Samson, and Ishan offer more impact up top.
– Ended Ishan’s career to open in ODI
– Ended Jaiswal’s career to open in T20
– Forced Virat retire from test to play at 4
– Ended Rohit’s captaincy career
– Ended Sanju Samson opening carrerJust to choke in every crucial match, Prince Shubman Gill for you pic.twitter.com/W7UeirJbMs
— ADITYA (@Wxtreme10) December 9, 2025
Shubman Gill in last 13 T20i innings
20(9), 10(7), 5(8), 47(28), 29(19), 4(3), 12(10), 37*(20), 5(10), 15(12), 46(40), 29(16), 4(2).
Crossed 30 only 3 times. This is the performance of Poster Boy and Future of Indian Cricket. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wp74YfwCfb
— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) December 9, 2025
I hope they lose every single match so that we get rid of Gambhir, Agarkar & their parchi culture from India!!
3 openers in Samson, Jaiswal & Gaikwad has no place in Indian team coz parchi Shubman Gill has to play as he is favourite of Gautam Gambhir!! pic.twitter.com/knv7pO8or6
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) December 9, 2025
What this Shubman Gill guy even does??, little bit of tough pitch and he surrenders immediately, and his cringe nibbis hype him like he is some Bradman. 😭 pic.twitter.com/paggVfMIGZ
— Srijan (@LegendDhonii) December 9, 2025
Bring back Sanju Samson 🙏 pic.twitter.com/cTGdDKU42D
— BakBak (@InfiniteScrooll) December 9, 2025
Ended Ishan’s career to open in ODI
Ended Jaiswal’s career to open in T20
Forced Virat to retire from test to play at 4
Ended Rohit’s captaincy career
Ended Sanju Samson opening carrerJust to choke in every crucial match, That’s Shubman Gill for you. pic.twitter.com/YjJWyWs04l
— Abhishek Kumar (@Abhishek060722) December 9, 2025
Gill in action next?
Shubman Gill will now get a chance to answer critics in the next game at Mullanpur but the pressure is firmly on with fans questioning his selection in the team.
