ZIM vs IND 2024: “I was expecting a little more consistency in Shubman Gill’s batting” – Saba Karim

Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Saba Karim said he was expecting a little more consistency in Shubman Gill’s batting in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. Though Gill top-scored in the series with 170 runs in five games at an average of 42.50 and a strike rate of 125.93, Karim had lofty expectations from India’s stand-in captain.

Gill’s strike rate was the lowest among the Indian batters as he could not make the most of the Powerplay conditions. The right-hander scored back-to-back fifties in the series but was dismissed after scoring 13 runs from 14 balls in the fifth and final T20I at the Harare Sports Club, Harare on Sunday.

However, Karim feels Gill was spot on as a captain, especially after India lost the opening game of the series by 13 runs.

Saba Karim said on Sony Sports, “Shubman Gill as a captain and a batter. I was expecting a little more consistency in Shubman Gill’s batting. That was a little lacking. However, he performed fantastically as a captain. Pressure mounts on any captain after losing the first match, and that too a young captain.”

The former selector showered praise on Yashasvi Jaiswal for scoring 141 runs in three matches at an average of 70.50 and a strike rate of 165.88. Jaiswal played a match-winning knock of 93 runs off just 53 balls in the penultimate match.

“However, despite that, he got his players to rally splendidly. Jaiswal scoring runs. He didn’t get a chance in the World Cup. When you haven’t batted for a long time and haven’t played matches, it’s not easy to show form as soon as you come. However, we saw that,” Saba Karim elaborated.

Karim also showered praise on Abhishek Sharma for scoring a blistering 47-ball 100 in the second game after being dismissed for a duck on his debut.

“Abhishek Sharma scored a century at the top of the order. It’s not easy to come back and score a century after getting out for zero in the first match. Shivam Dube proved himself as a bowler in this series,” he said.

Karim was also satisfied with the performance of Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed. While Kumar scalped eight wickets in three matches, Ahmed bagged three wickets in as many games after making a comeback following a long hiatus.

“Mukesh Kumar bowled well. Khaleel Ahmed was making a comeback after five years. It was a very important series for him and he bowled well in every match and picked up wickets with the new ball, and along with that, the control he showed in the end overs. He bowled cutters and did steady bowling with the right line and length,” Saba Karim explained.

India will next tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs.