Dasgupta Backs Shubman Gill, Says T20 Form Will Follow Red-Ball Adjustments
Former cricketer believes Gill’s Asia Cup struggles are due to red-ball technique changes.
Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta attributed Shubman Gill’s struggles in the ongoing Asia Cup to technical adjustments made for red-ball cricket, which have yet to translate to the T20 format. Speaking to PTI Videos, Dasgupta expressed confidence in the Indian vice-captain’s ability to adapt, citing his quality and potential. Gill, who led India in Test matches against England earlier this year, has managed only an unbeaten 20 as his highest score in three Asia Cup matches, underperforming against Pakistan and Oman.
Dasgupta noted that T20’s high-risk, high-reward nature requires time for players like Gill to readjust after focusing on Test cricket. “He’s made technical changes for red-ball success, but switching back takes time. He’s a quality player and will soon score big,” said the 48-year-old former wicketkeeper-batter. He remains optimistic about India’s performance, stating the team has faced little challenge so far but expects tougher competition in the Super 4s, starting with Sunday’s clash against Pakistan.
The former cricketer praised India’s strategic use of three spinners, particularly wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, whose performances have been pivotal. “Kuldeep’s ability to perform after a two-month break is heartening, and Axar Patel and Varun can bowl in the powerplay, easing reliance on seamers,” Dasgupta said. He highlighted the spinners’ effectiveness in Dubai’s conditions, calling wrist spinners “match-winners” across formats.
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Looking ahead to the India-Pakistan Super 4s match, Dasgupta cautioned against underestimating Pakistan despite their recent struggles as a unit. “Pakistan has quality bowlers, but their batting has been a concern. They’re dangerous, and T20 is unpredictable,” he said. While India remains the favorite to win the Asia Cup, Dasgupta warned against complacency, noting the competitiveness of teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the tournament.
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