From Starts to Scores: What’s Holding Shubman Gill Back in the Middle Overs
Shubman Gill’s journey in international cricket has largely been a story of elegance, composure, and promise fulfilled. From his breakout performances in Australia to his purple patch in white-ball cricket during 2023, Gill has been viewed as India’s long-term batting mainstay. Yet, much like the phase Suryakumar Yadav currently finds himself in, Gill is now grappling with a subtler challenge: the search for sustained runs in the middle overs.
On the surface, Gill’s numbers do not suggest a crisis. He continues to get started, looks fluent in the powerplay, and rarely appears out of control. But the concern lies in what follows. In recent months, Gill has too often fallen into the region of low scores, particularly during the middle phase of the innings, a period when modern batters are expected to consolidate without losing scoring momentum.
Unlike the explosive Suryakumar, Gill’s game is built on timing rather than brute force. His strength lies in piercing gaps, rotating the strike, and punishing loose deliveries. However, as bowlers tighten their lines after the field spreads, Gill has occasionally looked caught between gears - neither fully anchoring nor accelerating decisively. This hesitation has resulted in mistimed shots, soft dismissals, and missed opportunities to convert promising starts into match-defining knocks.
The issue is as much mental as technical. Gill now carries added responsibility as India’s vice-captain in white-ball cricket and a central figure across formats. With that comes expectation: to bat deep, control the innings, and be the glue holding the middle order together. At times, this responsibility appears to weigh on his shot selection, making him less assertive against spin and defensive fields.
In ODIs and T20Is alike, the middle overs demand clarity. Players must either absorb pressure or break it. Gill has sometimes tried to do both at once. Against spin, he has been nudged into taking risks slightly earlier than ideal, particularly when run rates stagnate. Opposing teams have recognised this pattern, often stacking the off-side and daring him to play across the line or over the top.
What makes this phase intriguing is that Gill’s fundamentals remain strong. His balance, head position, and bat swing are intact. Unlike players going through technical slumps, Gill’s issue seems more about rhythm and intent. A slight shift - committing either to anchoring longer or picking specific bowlers to attack - could unlock the fluency that once defined his middle-overs dominance.
Historically, Gill has shown an ability to adapt. His transformation into a white-ball force in 2023 was proof of that. This current phase, therefore, feels less like a decline and more like a recalibration. As India transitions towards the next global cycle, Gill’s role will be pivotal not just as a run-scorer but as a tempo-setter.
If Gill can rediscover clarity in the middle overs by trusting his strengths rather than reacting to pressure, the runs will follow. Much like Suryakumar’s search is about timing and confidence, Gill’s is about decisiveness. And once that clicks, India’s batting will look far more assured in the heart of an innings.
On the surface, Gill’s numbers do not suggest a crisis. He continues to get started, looks fluent in the powerplay, and rarely appears out of control. But the concern lies in what follows. In recent months, Gill has too often fallen into the region of low scores, particularly during the middle phase of the innings, a period when modern batters are expected to consolidate without losing scoring momentum.
Unlike the explosive Suryakumar, Gill’s game is built on timing rather than brute force. His strength lies in piercing gaps, rotating the strike, and punishing loose deliveries. However, as bowlers tighten their lines after the field spreads, Gill has occasionally looked caught between gears - neither fully anchoring nor accelerating decisively. This hesitation has resulted in mistimed shots, soft dismissals, and missed opportunities to convert promising starts into match-defining knocks.
The issue is as much mental as technical. Gill now carries added responsibility as India’s vice-captain in white-ball cricket and a central figure across formats. With that comes expectation: to bat deep, control the innings, and be the glue holding the middle order together. At times, this responsibility appears to weigh on his shot selection, making him less assertive against spin and defensive fields.
In ODIs and T20Is alike, the middle overs demand clarity. Players must either absorb pressure or break it. Gill has sometimes tried to do both at once. Against spin, he has been nudged into taking risks slightly earlier than ideal, particularly when run rates stagnate. Opposing teams have recognised this pattern, often stacking the off-side and daring him to play across the line or over the top.
What makes this phase intriguing is that Gill’s fundamentals remain strong. His balance, head position, and bat swing are intact. Unlike players going through technical slumps, Gill’s issue seems more about rhythm and intent. A slight shift - committing either to anchoring longer or picking specific bowlers to attack - could unlock the fluency that once defined his middle-overs dominance.
Historically, Gill has shown an ability to adapt. His transformation into a white-ball force in 2023 was proof of that. This current phase, therefore, feels less like a decline and more like a recalibration. As India transitions towards the next global cycle, Gill’s role will be pivotal not just as a run-scorer but as a tempo-setter.
If Gill can rediscover clarity in the middle overs by trusting his strengths rather than reacting to pressure, the runs will follow. Much like Suryakumar’s search is about timing and confidence, Gill’s is about decisiveness. And once that clicks, India’s batting will look far more assured in the heart of an innings.
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