Irfan Pathan backs Shubman Gill to embrace India’s aggressive T20I approach in Asia Cup

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has backed Shubman Gill to play aggressively in the upcoming Asia Cup and embrace the team’s new T20I approach. Pathan noted that Gill has successfully changed his batting style in the shortest format and deserves his return to T20Is.

Gill has been appointed as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy for the continental tournament and he would look to deliver at the top of the order. The right-hander scored 650 runs in 15 matches while leading the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.87. Ergo, he played an instrumental role in taking the team to the playoffs.

“I think Shubman Gill has improved his T20 cricket a lot. What we have seen this season, the way he played, the amount of runs he scored, and few seasons in the IPL as well. There was a time I remember when he started, when he played for KKR, I vaguely remember his strike-rate was about 125ish. And then suddenly he jumped to 150. Last year’s IPL was 150 plus and he was consistently scoring runs as well,” Irfan Pathan said on Sony Sports Network.

“Now the Indian team has gone to a higher strike-rate, they want to be very aggressive. So I don’t think there should be an issue for Shubman Gill to start playing an aggressive role and do what the team demands of him,” he added.

On the other hand, Pathan was asked if Shubman Gill plays across all formats, can he also go through a slump in form like Virat Kohli. Pathan said Gill deserves his vice-captaincy role and he has been performing consistently for the country.

“Virat Kohli is a great player. He has been a match-winner. But he was averaging 15 batting first. And there are certain things that were not going his way. But it is not like he is not a good player if he did not perform at that time. He has won games for India for years. Tomorrow, if Shubman does not perform, if his average is also 15 for an entire year, and he is still with the team, then we will talk. For now, he was the vice-captain before as well, but no one questioned that when he went out. Now he is back, which was his place,” he said.

Gill will be seen in action in the upcoming Asia Cup.