"If we talk about continuity and preference, Yashasvi Jaiswal was actually in that team" - Former opener on Shubman Gill after IND vs SA 2025 2nd T20I

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has noted that Shubman Gill's repeated failures at the top of the order are raising questions. While acknowledging that a vice-captain gets a longer rope usually, he highlighted that Yashasvi Jaiswal, and not Gill, was India's backup opener in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

South Africa set India a 214-run target in the second T20I in New Chandigarh on Thursday, December 11. Gill was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the chase as the Men in Blue were bowled out for 162, losing the game by 51 runs.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that the long rope being given to Gill will come under question if he continues to underperform, pointing out that Jaiswal was picked ahead of him for the 2024 T20 World Cup and Sanju Samson had fared well at the top of the order after the global event.

"I will first talk about the Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill. In the last match, at least it seemed like he was desperate and got out while trying to run fast, but he couldn't even open his account this time. Generally, a vice-captain gets a longer rope, but for how long?" Chopra said. (1:40)

"This question will come because Shubman's selection was also very interesting. When the 2024 T20 World Cup happened, if we talk about continuity and preference, Yashasvi Jaiswal was actually in that team. Then Yashasvi was left behind and Shubman Gill moved ahead. In between, Sanju Samson did well, but he too was kept out," he added.

Chopra opined that Gill, despite being the vice-captain, needs to score runs in the remaining three T20Is against South Africa to retain his place in the side.

"Obviously, there are questions, and you cannot hide those questions. You cannot even hide yourself from those questions. You cannot ignore them. He is the vice-captain for sure, and you want him to score runs and remain a part of the team's core, but he will have to score runs in the next three games," he observed.

Shubman Gill nicked a Lungi Ngidi to Reeza Hendricks at slip in the second T20I against South Africa. He fell prey to the same bowler for a two-ball four in the first T20I, attempting a big shot after having struck the previous delivery for a boundary.

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"I want him to play all 3 games and as an opener" - Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill's future after IND vs SA 2025 2nd T20I

Shubman Gill has represented India in 35 T20Is. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Shubman Gill should be persisted with as an opener in the last three T20Is. However, he acknowledged that the Indian Test and ODI captain needs to be among the runs in those games.

"There are three more games, and I want him to play all three games, and as an opener. However, he needs to score runs in those three games, or else when you come against New Zealand, there will be a question that we haven't sorted out our opening yet," he said. (2:45)

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Indian team would be in a dilemma if Gill fails to fire in the final three T20Is.

"So do you stick with him because he is the vice-captain or will you say Sanju should be played because he had been doing well? You don't want to enter the World Cup in a neither-here-nor-there situation. The vice-captain needs to score runs. We are hearing it in a slightly repetitive mode," Chopra observed.

Shubman Gill has aggregated 841 runs at a slightly underwhelming average of 28.03 in 35 T20Is. He has scored 263 runs at an even lower average of 23.90 in 14 T20Is in 2025.