A couple of years ago, the Indian vice-captain was clearly ahead of his partners in terms of impact and consistency.
India recently secured a 2-1 win in the five-match T201 series against Australia, with Abhishek Sharma topping the run charts with 163 runs at a strike rate of 161.38, while Gill scored 132 runs at a strike rate of 136.08.
Speaking on the Star Sports show Follow the Blues, Aaron said:
“Shubman Gill must be finding it a bit weird because one-and-a-half or two years ago, he was the leader within this combination in the IPL and for India in T20Is, getting consistent runs. He is still getting runs, but Abhishek Sharma is just obliterating everybody with his strike rate.”
Aaron praised Gill’s classy performance in the final T201, an unbeaten 29 off 16 balls, calling him the “ice” to Abhishek’s “fire” in the opening pair.
“Both of them go about their work very effortlessly. Shubman Gill, in the last T201, just showed how much class he has. He just has to hold his position and he can do everything from there itself,” Aaron added.
Best Opening Pair for India
Aaron opined that Gill and Abhishek Sharma form India’s best opening combination. While Abhishek attacks aggressively and Suryakumar Yadav may also bat similarly at No. 3, Gill provides stability and the assurance that one batter can anchor the innings.
Abhishek Sharma’s Adaptability Praised
Aaron lauded Sharma for his ability to adjust to different conditions, highlighting his Player of the Series awards in both Dubai (slow wickets) and Australia (fast wickets).
“What most batters find difficult is coming from slow wickets to fast wickets, but Abhishek shows he has a way to adapt to these conditions,” Aaron said.
Aaron also praised Sharma’s tactical approach against top bowlers like Josh Hazlewood, noting how the left-handed opener disrupts bowlers’ plans and called him a vital cog in the Indian batting lineup.
“If you get off to a good start, more often than not, you win the game, and Abhishek Sharma has found a way to do that consistently,” he added.
Abhishek Sharma has now amassed 1,012 runs at a strike rate of 189.51 in 28 T201 innings, including 813 runs at a strike rate of 195.43 in winning causes, cementing his role as a key figure in India’s batting setup.
