Like IPL: Team Management Focused on Reigniting Shubman Gill’s Form, Coach Clarifies

New Delhi: Star Indian batter Shubman Gill has struggled with form recently, prompting the team management to take steps to help him regain his confidence ahead of major tournaments. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has now provided clarity on Gill’s situation.

Coach’s Perspective on Gill’s Form:
Ten Doeschate said that since returning to the T20 setup in September during the Asia Cup, Gill has placed excessive pressure on himself. “The team wants him to bat freely, just as he does in the IPL,” he noted. Gill replaced Sanju Samson at the top of the order but has been struggling to convert starts into big scores, raising questions about his role ahead of the T20 World Cup in February-March 2026.

Guidance from the Coach:
Following India’s loss to South Africa in the second T20, ten Doeschate highlighted the need for Gill to relax in the shortest format. “At the end of the Australia tour, we discussed reducing the burden on him and playing with freedom, especially in roles where he feels he must prove his place in the team,” he explained.

Referring to Gill’s leadership glimpses during the England series, ten Doeschate added, “Some of his intent in the T20 team reflects the leadership qualities he showed there. He is a player who cares deeply about his role, perhaps a bit too much at times.”

IPL Freedom and Confidence:
Ten Doeschate emphasized, “We don’t want him to overthink. Just as he plays freely in the IPL, we want him to approach international T20s with the same freedom. We trust his talent and are confident he will perform.” He also backed Suryakumar Yadav, noting that while Suryakumar has not consistently performed since taking up captaincy, he remains a vital player.

Pressure of Batting at No. 3:
Speaking about the challenges of batting at number three, ten Doeschate said, “Naturally, there’s pressure to score runs. He hasn’t performed at the expected level recently, but we are not worried. We expect him to bat aggressively and play his natural game. We are confident he will bounce back.”

On Bowlers’ Performance:
India’s bowlers struggled as the team conceded 213 runs in favorable batting conditions. Pacers Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah were expensive, giving away 54 and 45 runs respectively in their four overs. Ten Doeschate commented, “It wasn’t a good day for our bowlers. After Quinton de Kock hit a six on the first ball post-break, we lost focus on our strategy. We discussed it briefly but could not implement it effectively during the game.”

Conclusion:
The management’s focus is clear: relieve Gill of undue pressure, let him play with freedom like in the IPL, and build confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup, while also addressing lapses in the bowling department.