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Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has made a significant comment about Shubman Gill’s future in cricket. Butt suggests that if Gill becomes complacent, India might consider Yashasvi Jaiswal as a potential replacement in ODIs.
In the first ODI against Sri Lanka, Shubman Gill was out for 16 runs off 35 balls. The 24-year-old struggled to find his rhythm and faced difficulties with timing on a pitch that offered slow and turning conditions.
Gill’s vulnerability on slower tracks was again highlighted as he attempted to accelerate but was dismissed cheaply by the left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. This innings followed a pattern where Gill got off to a start but was out while trying to hit a boundary.
Salman Butt makes a major statement about Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Salman Butt acknowledged Shubman Gill’s consistency over the past 18 months, noting that Gill is currently one of the leading batsmen globally. However, Butt also pointed out that Gill has been getting out in the twenties and thirties frequently in recent months, describing this as a period of vulnerability for him.
“Shubman Gill has performed a lot in the last 1-1.5 years. He is among the world’s top batsmen and is very consistent. But if you see his batting since the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, he has given away a lot of starts,” Butt stated.
“He has scored 20-25 and has got out. He has played a lot in the air and has been caught out inside the circle. He has been caught at point on the uppish drives as well. He loses concentration quickly. It seems like between the 20-30 runs, it is his vulnerable period.,” he added.
“If Gill takes his position for granted…” – Salman Butt on Shubman Gill’s future
Butt noted that this trend is concerning for a player of Gill’s caliber, and if he fails to address these issues, Yashasvi Jaiswal is poised to step in as his replacement.
“He (Gill) has been dismissed a lot during this period. This is not a great sign for such an established player that he gets out in this way. So there is competition as (Yashasvi) Jaiswal) is giving good performances. If Gill takes his position for granted, then he will be challenged,” Butt reckoned.
Shubman Gill was named India’s vice-captain for both the T20I and ODI series in Sri Lanka, reflecting the selectors’ confidence in him. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has expressed that if Gill continues his strong performance, he could be a future captain of India.
Gill boasts an impressive ODI record, having accumulated 2,287 runs in 45 matches with an average of 60.18 and a strike rate of 102.55. His tally includes 6 centuries and 13 half-centuries. In contrast, Yashasvi Jaiswal is yet to make his ODI debut, though he has garnered attention with his performances in Tests and T20Is. Jaiswal is known for his aggressive batting and could be a valuable addition to the ODI squad.
