Trust me: Abhishek Sharmas strong message for Shubman Gill critics

NEW DELHI: Having grown up playing alongside Shubman Gill since they were 12 years old, Abhishek Sharma remains confident that his close friend’s lean patch in T20Is is only temporary and that big performances are around the corner — including at next year’s T20 World Cup.

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Gill’s place in India’s T20I XI has come under scrutiny, especially after an in-form Sanju Samson was left out. The vice-captain has struggled for consistency, managing 291 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 137.3, with just four sixes during that period. His struggles continued in the third T20I against South Africa on Sunday, where he scored a run-a-ball 28 in a modest chase of 118.

The slow knock, however, did little to affect the result as Abhishek provided early momentum with a blistering 35 off 18 balls at the top.

Asked about the lack of runs from Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav during the ongoing five-match series, which India currently lead 2-1, Abhishek offered a firm defence.

Ill tell you one thing straight away, that trust me, these two guys are going to win matches in World Cup (in February-March) and in this series as well, Abhishek was particularly protective while speaking about Gill, his closest friend for over a decade.

Because Ive been playing with them since so long, especially with Shubman, so I know which match he can win, which conditions, irrespective of the team, whoever it is, he said.

So I have a lot of faith in him from the beginning, and I hope everyone will see him very soon and everyone will have faith in him, added the world’s No.1-ranked T20 batter.

After Abhishek’s dismissal at a team score of 60, India took more than 10 overs to finish the chase, with both Gill and Suryakumar unable to accelerate freely. Abhishek explained the approach following the explosive start.

There was a bit of help for the fast bowlers, and as I was batting, I knew that if I gave a good start here, the match could get over in the Powerplay, and thats what happened.

...that was the plan for the rest of the batters, that they would just knock out or finish the match, so it was a very simple plan after that, he said.

Abhishek also pointed to challenging conditions during December evenings.

Conditions of course, I mean, as a batter you have to keep those things in mind that the ball is swinging a bit or its seaming a bit, so I tried to play a few shots which is suitable for those wickets and pitches, so thats the plan always.

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