Young Indian opener Shubman Gill has been under scrutiny for his recent performances in the ongoing T20 International series against South Africa. His inability to score big runs has led to a wave of criticism from various quarters. However, former Indian fast bowler and head coach of the IPL franchise Gujarat Titans, Ashish Nehra, has come out in strong support of Shubman Gill. Nehra has stated that it's premature to judge Gill's form and that he has no concerns regarding the opener's performance ahead of IPL 2026.
Ashish Nehra's Defense of Gill
Shubman Gill's performance in the initial two matches of the five-match T20 series against South Africa has been disappointing. In the first match, Gill was dismissed after scoring just four runs, and in the second match, he failed to open his account, getting out on the very first ball. Such a dismal showing has led to continuous questioning of his batting prowess by cricket experts and fans alike. Gill, who also captains the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, might be feeling the pressure regarding his form ahead of the upcoming tournament, while however, his coach, Ashish Nehra, has attempted to alleviate this pressure with his supportive remarks.
Ashish Nehra, the head coach of IPL team Gujarat Titans, has dismissed the ongoing criticism surrounding Shubman Gill's current form. Speaking to PTI, Nehra emphasized that it would be hasty to assess a player's form based on just two matches. He highlighted that the T20 format is inherently a game of constant ups and downs, and it's natural for players to not perform as expected sometimes. Nehra also pointed out that there are still approximately three months left until IPL 2026, and even if it were just three weeks, he wouldn't be concerned about Gill's form, while this statement could provide significant relief to Gill, helping him play in upcoming matches without additional pressure.
India's Abundant Opening Options
Nehra also shed light on the wealth of opening options available to the Indian team. He mentioned that currently, Abhishek and Shubman Gill are opening the innings, but there are several other talented players who can fulfill this role. Nehra specifically named Sai Sudarshan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who have impressed with their batting. Also, he listed Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan as viable alternatives. Nehra believes that it isn't appropriate to talk about dropping a player after one or two poor performances, as this can demotivate players and cause them to deviate from their natural playing style, while this indicates that Indian cricket isn't short on talent, and selectors have multiple strong choices at their disposal.
Gujarat Titans' IPL Auction Strategy
Regarding the upcoming IPL 2026 auction, Ashish Nehra discussed Gujarat Titans' strategy. He revealed that the team has released very few players,. Which means their core team remains intact and is quite strong. Nehra stated that Gujarat Titans only need five players and have a remaining purse of 12. 90 crore rupees for the auction. This suggests that the team is satisfied with its current structure and will focus on filling only specific gaps. It will be interesting to see which players Gujarat targets in the auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, and what strategy they employ to further strengthen their squad. The team's objective will be to select players who fit well into their existing lineup and help them perform better in the next season.
