When it comes to the ODIs, skipper Shubman Gill is what Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli were for Team India, all these years. Perhaps Gill might be a step ahead, as far as the numbers are concerned. Rohit at his highest averaged over 50, Kohli was over 60, and Gill, after the completion of 67 matches also stands tall with an average of 60. So, in the next couple of years one can only expect it to touch 65, with the kind of consistency he is showing; the only catch being, if he finds ways to remain fit.
Shubman Gill’s hamstring issues raise concern
Yes. For a batter of his caliber, he seems to be suffering from injuries way too often, as he would like. Last two-three years, there has been a spate of niggles that the batter has gone through — 2024 he suffered the index finger injury, then the same year he suffered a thumb fracture, 2025 was the year of the neck spasm during the South Africa Tests; and now in the India-England ODIs, he has been going through leg cramps/hamstring issues.
It happened during his innings of 80 in the 1st ODI, where due to the same hamstring issue he had to retire hurt, and it happened again on Sunday, where he was out of the field for sometime at Lord’s, while fielding, and then during his innings of 77, while chasing 388. He looked in visible discomfort in the latter half of his innings where hitting boundaries was an issue, and so was running. So much so, that the physio had to be called out.
Needs to continue with sublime form
Soon, in an attempt to play a slog sweep, he was out LBW to Adil Rashid. The shot looked like, he could not get in the perfect position, due to his discomfort, and missed the line of the ball. If not for that injury, or a probable one, he looked in total control, that could have handed him his 10th ODI ton as well.
But that was not to be. Which only shows, if Shubman Gill remains fit, he can be the most threatening batter the format has ever seen, surpassing the likes of other Indian greats. For the record, in his last 5 ODI innings. he has returned with scores of 84, 154, 80, 31 and 77. That in turn means, he has played 9 matches this year, where has scored 561 runs at an average of 93 with one ton and five fifties.
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