"5 opportunities are a lot" - Irfan Pathan's massive statement on Team India player ahead of IND vs SA 2025 T20Is

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed hope that Shubman Gill cements his place in the Men in Blue's T20I side in the upcoming series against South Africa. He noted that the Indian vice-captain will likely get five opportunities at the top of the order, which should be enough.

India and South Africa will square off in a five-match T20I series, with the first game scheduled in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9. Gill, who was picked for the series subject to fitness, has been cleared to play the first game.

On the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues,' Pathan was asked about three things to watch out for in the T20I series between India and South Africa. As for Gill, he said:

"I would like to see three things in the South Africa series. Firstly, Shubman Gill needs to cement his place in T20 cricket. We believe he is an all-format player. We have seen how he performs in T20 cricket in our league. However, here, he has a chance to cement his place."

"There will be slight pressure for sure, but he is a good player, and I hope he performs well in this T20 series. He is coming after a slight injury and will get a lot of opportunities. Five opportunities are a lot, and he will get those opportunities on good pitches. He will like many pitches, where you will get to see pace and bounce, like the Dharamsala pitch," Pathan added.

Shubman Gill has scored 837 runs at an average of 29.89 in 33 T20Is. He has a much better overall record in T20s, aggregating 5,380 runs at an average of 37.36 in 169 innings.

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"How the other fast bowlers bowl along with Bumrah" - Irfan Pathan on the other things to watch out for in IND vs SA 2025 T20Is

Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the Indian attack in the five-match T20I series against South Africa. [P/C: Getty]

In the same show, Irfan Pathan noted that he is eager to see how the other Indian seamers complement Jasprit Bumrah in the five T20Is against South Africa.

"Secondly, I would like to see how the other fast bowlers bowl along with Bumrah. Hardik Pandya is at the other end, and you might see Arshdeep Singh as well. So how those bowlers bowl, going ahead, will be extremely necessary for India for the World Cup," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that he would also focus on how the other finishers perform alongside Hardik Pandya.

"The third thing I would like to see is who plays the finisher's role alongside Hardik Pandya and how they do it. This is a massive factor. If we have to defend the World Cup, it will be extremely crucial for our lower-middle-order batters to remain in form. So my focus will be on how the batter at the other end finishes the game alongside Hardik," Pathan observed.

Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma will likely play the finishers' role alongside Hardik Pandya. It remains to be seen whether the Indian team management sticks with Jitesh as the wicketkeeper-batter or gives Sanju Samson more opportunities in the lower-middle order.