Facing Josh Hazlewood with the new ball, Gill endured a torrid time in the second T20I
Shubman Gill just can’t seem to catch a break in T20Is. Ever since returning to the shortest format for India after nearly a year, the right-hander from Punjab has struggled to find rhythm and runs. Gill, who replaced Sanju Samson – the man with three T20I centuries as opener in 2024 – has been under the scanner throughout the Asia Cup 2025 and now the Australia series.
Gill’s Asia Cup campaign in the UAE yielded just 127 runs in seven innings at an average of 21.16, putting the spotlight firmly on him heading into the T20Is against Australia. A bright unbeaten 37 off 20 balls in the rain-hit opener at Canberra offered some hope, but things unraveled quickly in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 31 (Friday).
Facing Josh Hazlewood with the new ball, Gill endured a torrid time. Taking strike first up, he was trapped plumb in front off the very first delivery, only to be saved by DRS, with the ball bouncing over the stumps. What followed was a masterclass in fast bowling from Hazlewood and an uncomfortable viewing for Gill.
The Australian seamer beat him all ends up with the next ball, then followed it with a nasty bouncer that smashed into Gill’s helmet. The Indian opener looked visibly shaken and opted for damage control, blocking out the rest of the over without any intent to attack.
A shot through point for 3 runs in the next over off Xavier Bartlett was all Gill could manage before Hazlewood returned for round two. On the fourth delivery of his second over, Hazlewood went full, and Gill miscued an attempted lofted shot straight to Mitchell Marsh at mid-off. His innings ended at 5 off 10 balls, a reflection of the complete control Hazlewood had over him.
In 30 T20Is, Gill now averages under 29. With Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings, time is fast running out for Gill to justify the faith shown in him by the Indian team management.
