1983 World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth advised India's head coach Gautam Gambhir not to make too many changes in a hurry after the 1-2 series defeat to Australia. While India did win the Champions Trophy
earlier this year, they have been inconsistent in the ODI format since Gambhir took charge in mid-2024.
Srikkanth, however, lauded India's performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England earlier this year. After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from the red-ball format ahead of the five-match Test series, the Asian giants drew 2-2 under Shubman Gill's leadership.
"India have been at the two extremes under Gambhir. The results have been either deadly or extremely horrible. That's why he shouldn't keep changing things hastily. It's important to keep the right combination. India luckily escaped in England without especially Virat Kohli and also Rohit Sharma. Of course, we did brilliantly in England overall, especially Shubman Gill and the bowlers," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Probably, he is also putting pressure on himself: Srikkanth on Shubman Gill
While Shubman finished as the highest run-getter in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, his returns in white-ball cricket have been abysmal of late. In the last 14 white-ball games he has played, the Punjab batter has not managed to register a half-century. The last time he scored a fifty was against Bangladesh in the 2025 Champions Trophy opener.
"After performing in England, probably, he is also putting pressure on himself. He shouldn't do that and just play his game. He actually played well today but just got a superb delivery from Hazlewood. More than Shubman Gill getting himself out, it was a wicket-taking delivery that got him. But he does look to be under pressure, just observing his body language because he has replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain, while also opening alongside him," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
"And on the other side, everyone is asking why Yashasvi Jaiswal isn't playing. All that adds to his pressure. But he'll get over it as he's a fantastic player. He should just play his normal game because he's getting his strides and shots right. He's just getting out, that's the only thing. So once he produces a couple of big knocks at home against South Africa, he'll be set again," he added.
Shubman will now look to put his dismal performance in the three-match ODI series against Australia behind him. The 26-year-old will want to focus on giving India good starts during the impending five T20Is against the Aussies, commencing on Wednesday, October 29.
