Irfan Pathan Advocates for Shubman Gill's Role in Upcoming T20I Series

Pathan Discusses Shubman Gill's T20I Prospects

Irfan Pathan, a former Indian cricketer, recently shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill's return to the national team ahead of the five-match T20I series against South Africa, commencing on December 9. Pathan believes that Gill should secure his position at the top of the batting order in T20 cricket.

After a convincing 2-1 victory in the ODI series, the focus now shifts to the T20I matches as India prepares to face South Africa, with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka set for 2026. Gill is included in the T20 squad after missing the second Test and the ODI series due to neck spasms, an injury he sustained during the first Test in Kolkata. He was hospitalized as a precaution but has since completed his rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence and is now fit for the T20I series.

Pathan's Confidence in Gill

"Shubman Gill should solidify his position at the top of the order in T20 cricket. We value players who can perform across formats. His IPL performances have been impressive, and now he has the opportunity to establish himself in the T20 International team. Although there may be some pressure, he is a talented player. I hope he excels in this five-match T20I series against South Africa. Coming back from a minor injury, he will have ample chances to showcase his skills on favorable pitches, particularly in Dharamshala, where the conditions will be conducive to batting," Pathan remarked during an interview on JioStar.

The Importance of a Reliable Finisher

Pathan also emphasized the necessity for a dependable finisher to support Hardik Pandya, which is vital for India's World Cup defense on home soil. He identified Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, and Rinku Singh as potential candidates to strengthen the lower-middle order alongside Pandya. "It will be interesting to see who steps up as a finisher with Hardik Pandya and how effectively they perform. This is a critical factor. To defend the World Cup in India, it is essential that our lower-middle order batters maintain their form. The performance of other batters, alongside Hardik, will be crucial. Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, and Rinku Singh are all options, but we need to determine who will best complement Hardik in the lower order. I will be closely watching this aspect," Pathan concluded.

T20I Match Schedule: India vs South Africa

The Indian team will kick off the T20I series against South Africa on Tuesday in Cuttack. The second T20I is scheduled for December 11 in Mullanpur, followed by the third match on December 14 in Dharamsala. The fourth T20I will take place on December 17 in Lucknow, and the series will conclude with the fifth match in Ahmedabad on December 19.