It was only two days ago when there was an air going around if captaincy is taking a toll on Shubman Gill’s role as a batter. However, he put all the question marks behind him to come up with a captain’s knock in the third T20I against Zimbabwe.
A classy start for Gill
After making 33 in the first two matches, Gill hammered 66 off 49 balls. He started off with some sumptuous strokes and looked like a million dollar while playing some of those. He drove pacers like Richard Ngavara and Tendai Chatara, placing them between long-off and mid-wicket. Although Blessing Muzarabani bowled with steam and troubled Gill initially, the Indian skipper looked adamant in going big right from the start.
Gill’s 66 take IND to 182
Gill made majority of his runs through the leg side as the Zimbabweans dished out some ordinary deliveries. He looked to accelerate later in the innings as he targeted particular bowlers. It was his 66 that laid the platform for the visitors to set up a commanding total of 182. While he started briskly with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill dictated the play when he lost his partner. At the death, it was Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made a sublime 49 off just 28 runs.
Highest score by Indian captain in Overseas (T20I)
Score | Player vs Opp. |
---|---|
100 | Suryakumar Yadav vs SA |
92 | Rohit Sharma vs AUS |
85 | Virat Kohli vs AUS |
72* | Suresh Raina vs ZIM |
66 | Shubman Gill vs ZIM |