IND vs AUS: Can Gill repeat heroics of 2023-24?

• Gill leads India in ODIs vs Australia amid pressure to perform well.
• Gill's 2023/24 scores: 74 in Mohali, 104 in Indore for series win.
• Gill, Player of the Series with 178 runs, key for 2027 World Cup.

In 2023/24, Gill smashed it out of the park against the Aussies

Cricket fans are in for a treat as India and Australia are set for a bilateral series comprising

three ODIs and five T20Is. When it comes to squads, it is the Indian side that has hogged the majority of the limelight, given the transitional phase, including a change in captaincy from Rohit Sharma to Shubman Gill in the ODI format.

Speaking of Gill, the youngster will be under immense pressure, given Australians can never be taken lightly, especially in their own backyard. Therefore, every decision Gill takes will affect the outcome. Furthermore, his willow also needs to do the talking, because the more runs he gets, the less criticism he receives.

At the moment, determining Gill’s performances is simply impossible, but we can surely go back to India and Australia’s last series in 2023/24 when Gill made a name for himself against the big boys.

74 in Mohali

(Credit- Cricket Times)

The first game of the series was held in Mohali, with Australia batting first and scoring 276 runs. For a dominant team like the Aussies, 276 was a score below par, and therefore, the Indian outfit did not have much trouble completing the chase. The opening duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill scored 71 and 74 runs, respectively, whereas in the middle order, KL Rahul’s 58 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 50 gave India the final boost to cross the line.

104 in Indore

(Credit- WION)

Indore witnessed one of the finest innings from an Indian youngster as Gill, with India batting first, scored 104 runs in 97 balls at a strike rate of 107.21, including six boundaries and four sixes. Shreyas Iyer also joined the party, adding 105 runs, which helped India post a target of 399 for Australia. In response, Australia only managed 217 runs. Australia had a reduced target due to the use of the DLS method, but India still won by 99 runs.

The missing cog

In the third game, Shubman Gill was rested for the World Cup, so he did not play, which hurt India. Australia had posted a target of 352 runs, but his replacement, Washington Sundar, scored only 18 runs. The rest of the top and middle order added crucial runs, but the missing cog was enough to jeopardise India’s third victory, and Australia won the game by 66 runs.

(Credit- ESPN Cricinfo)

Despite not appearing in the third game, Shubman Gill was the Player of the Series with 178 runs. He scored one century and another half-century while maintaining a strike rate of 111.25 and an average of 89.00.

The upcoming series will severely test Gill’s judgement of the game, mental ability to handle pressure, and skills with the bat against one of the mightiest cricket teams on earth. We certainly hope Gill delivers, given he is expected to lead India in the 2027 World Cup, and preparation for the title begins right now.