Shubman Gill’s T20I series in South Africa came to a disappointing end as the star opener failed to live up to expectations with the bat. After failing to trouble the scorers in the 2nd match at St George’s Park, Shubman Gill failed to convert a start into an impact knock in the 3rd T20I against the Proteas on Thursday, December 14 in Johannesburg. | SA vs IND, 3rd T20I Scorecard |
Shubman Gill had a torrid time with Decision Review System (DRS) calls as the young opener got it wrong in both the matches he played in South Africa. The Gujarat Titans captain wasted a review in the second T20I after he was trapped LBW for 0 in Lizaad Williams’s first over in Gqebeha on Tuesday, December 12. Gill went for the review after missing a fast, fuller-length delivery from Williams while trying to play it with a slightly angled bat. The replays and the ball tracking system showed three reds.
In the 3rd T20I on Thursday, Shubman Gill was out LBW once again, this time while trying to sweep left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was playing his first game of the series. Gill had gotten off to a good start, racing to 12 off just 5 balls before he missed an attempted sweep. The on-field umpire had no hesitation to give it out and Gill walked off without thinking about the review.
However, replays suggested that Gill would have been adjudged not out had he taken the DRS as the ball was angling down the leg, as seen in the ball-tracking system.
Head coach Rahul Dravid and other members of the support staff looked dejected as they watched the replays of Gill’s LBW on their computer screens.
MAHARAJ’S DOUBLE BLOW
Notably, Keshav Maharaj helped South Africa pull things back after a flying start as he struck in successive deliveries in his first over. After introduced into the attack as early as the 3rd over by Aiden Markram, Maharaj also dismissed Tilak Varma, who hit the first delivery he faced into the hands of the cover fielder.
However, India still ended up posting 62 in the powerplay, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s continued aggression and Suryakumar Yadav’s blazing start. Notably, both Yashasvi and Gill were dismissed for ducks in the 2nd T20I.
It’s been a mixed bag for Shubman Gill in his maiden year in T20 internationals. Gill hit his maiden hundred in T20I against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in February but went past the fifty-run mark only twice in 13 innings in 2023. Shubman finished the year in T20Is with 316 runs at an average of 26.33. With the young opener auditioning for a spot in the T20 World Cup amid strong competition for the opener’s role, Gill would have wanted better returns from his outings in South Africa.