Asia Cup 2025: Fans criticise Shubman Gill after another failure in his T20 comeback

It was supposed to be a big comeback for India’s T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill, but instead it turned into yet another forgettable outing. Playing against Oman at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Gill managed just 5 runs off 8 balls before being bowled through the gate by left-arm seamer Faisal Shah in the second over.

A Dismissal That Sparked Déjà Vu

After starting cautiously, Gill showed a glimpse of class with an off-drive through extra cover. But the promise was short-lived. His dismissal drew comparisons to KL Rahul’s wicket against Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, when Shaheen Afridi shattered his stumps. The only difference? Gill fell to a 130 kph delivery instead of Afridi’s 145 kph thunderbolt.

Fans Question His Place in XI

The frustration among fans was evident on social media. Gill, returning to the T20I side after nearly a year, displaced Sanju Samson from the playing XI and indirectly kept Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the squad. Both moves angered supporters, who questioned the logic of persisting with Gill despite his lean form.

Sharp comments poured in, especially after his failure against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, where he was dismissed cheaply while trying to charge Saim Ayub in just the second over.

Also Read: Sanju Samson scores half-ton as India score 188 for 8 in Asia Cup match against Oman

Others Step Up

Despite Gill’s flop, India still posted a competitive 188 runs against Oman. Key contributions came from Sanju Samson (56), Abhishek Sharma (38) and Tilak Varma (29), ensuring the Men in Blue had a solid total on the board.

Gill’s struggles, however, have reignited the debate over India’s opening combination in T20Is, with fans loudly demanding fresh faces at the top.