"Not seeing an immediate change" - Aakash Chopra's big statement on struggling Team India star after 2nd IND vs SA 2025 T20I

Former batter Aakash Chopra opined that India are unlikely to drop Shubman Gill for the remaining three T20Is against South Africa despite his poor form. The former India, opener, however, admitted that the Men in Blue will have to go back to Sanju Samson if Gill fails in the next three T20Is against the Proteas.

South Africa hammered India by 51 runs in the second T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Thursday, December 11. Sent into bat, the Proteas put up 213-4 on the board as Quinton de Kock slammed 90 off 46. In the chase, India were all-out for 162 in 19.1 overs as the visitors leveled the series 1-1.

Gill perished for a golden duck in the chase, caught at slip off Lungi Ngidi as his horror run with the willow in T20Is continued. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Chopra admitted that Gill's poor run is a concern. However, he backed the struggling batter to play the remaining three T20Is against South Africa.

"You want him to score runs. He's opening the innings, which is a very important part of a T20 innings. How you start is almost how you finish in the end. He needs to score runs. I'm not seeing an immediate change. He will play the entire series against South Africa. But if the runs still don't come, then they'll have to look at Sanju Samson come that series against New Zealand," Chopra commented.

The 48-year-old added that Gill deserves to get a slightly longer rope to try and cement his place in the T20I team, particularly considering that he has been out due to injuries as well. Chopra elaborated:

"You'll have to give him [all five games]. You've not given him a long enough rope. He was injured and missed a few games in between. He's coming out of a bit of cold kind of break. I will give him all five games. I would give him every single chance to cement that place and make it his own. But if it still doesn't happen, then India has to be the priority and that opening slot cannot be taken for granted."

Apart from Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (5) also had another poor game. Tilak Varma (62 off 34) was the only India batter to offer some resistance.

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Shubman Gill's stats for India in T20Is in 2025

In 14 T20Is in 2025, Gill has scored 263 runs at an average of 23.90 and a strike rate of 142.93. The right-handed batter does not have a half-century to his name. His best of 47 came off 28 balls against Pakistan in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup. The aggressive knock featured eight fours.

Overall, the 26-year-old has played 35 T20I games and has scored 841 runs at an average of 28.03 and a strike rate of 140.40. The elegant batter has struck one hundred and three half-centuries in the format.