ZIM vs IND 2024: Competition for opening spot a ‘good thing’, says Shubman Gill

India’s stand-in captain Shubman Gill reckons competition for the opening spot is a good thing. Gill opened the innings with Abhishek Sharma in the first two matches against Zimbabwe and then opened with Yashasvi Jaiswal. While Gill top-scored with 170 runs in five matches, Jaiswal scored 141 runs in three games.

Abhishek Sharma scored 124 runs in four innings, including a 47-ball 100 in the second game of the series. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who can also open the innings, scored 133 runs in three innings at an average of 66.50 and a strike rate of 158.33.

India came up with a collective show as they won the fifth T20I by 42 runs at the Harare Sports Club, Harare on Sunday to seal the series by 4-1.

“It’s a good thing that everyone’s performing,” Gill said of the four opening batters in the squad, all of whom feature in the top-five run-getters in the series. “It shows that everyone is hungry and nobody is ready to take it easy. For any country or board, that’s always a good thing.

“Anyone who got the opportunity grabbed it with both hands. The openers to bowlers to allrounders to spinners, everyone made a mark and I think the selectors have now seen everything and it’s up to them to name the squad for the next series (3T20Is, 3 ODIs in Sri Lanka).”

Gill was also pleased with the way he backed his players throughout the series as a leader. The youngster said it was truly remarkable with the way they bounced back after losing the opening game by 13 runs.

“One thing about captaincy I feel is how much confidence you can show in your players. I try to do that and make them believe that if you try and execute the plans, the results will always follow,” Gill said.

“After losing the first match, we were under a bit of pressure. It’s not easy to play back-to-back games and the series was planned in a way that there were two back-to-back games, a couple of days rest and then again back-to-back games. It’s never easy playing a series like that but I think the way we came back after losing the first T20I was really remarkable.

“I think going 1-0 down in the series and then the way we came back was truly remarkable. Seeing everyone hungry and so quickly adapting to the situation and assessing the conditions was truly spectacular to watch.”

India will next take on Sri Lanka in three T20Is and as many ODIs.