NEW DELHI: Former India wicketkeeper batter Deep Dasgupta feels that India’s T20I vice captain Shubman Gill, who is currently finding it hard to get going in the shortest format, needs to play a role similar to what Virat Kohli executed for years by anchoring one end consistently.

The India Test and ODI skipper, who returned to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup and was named deputy to Suryakumar Yadav, has managed only 291 runs in 15 innings so far. The returns have not quite lived up to his reputation as a batter.

“For me Shubman’s role is very different, because if you see most of the other players are stroke players. So it is a kind of role that Virat played so well through the years, that is holding on one end while everyone plays around,” Deep told PTI Videos.

Dasgupta believes Gill should be the pivot around whom the rest of the batting unit operates.

“I think I see Shubman in that role that Virat played. He is that fulcrum that everyone plays around him. Not necessarily a high strike rate like others, but more consistent than the rest. That is the role that I see,” he added.

Focus on time at the crease before world cup

Reigning champions India will begin their T20 World Cup title defence against the USA in Mumbai on February 7. Dasgupta feels both captain Suryakumar Yadav and Gill, who are struggling for runs, should prioritise spending time in the middle.

“I don’t think it will be bothering them, but ideally you would want them to start firing again. If you want them to be fearless, that will come with a price and that price is consistency. That’s one thing you have to be mindful about,” he said.

“But there will be concern and we would ideally want Surya and everyone to be in form. Unfortunately, we don’t have many matches before the World Cup. But they are good enough and hopefully it’s just a matter of time.”

Split coaching debate after test setback

On the discussion around split coaching following India’s humiliating Test series whitewash against South Africa, Dasgupta termed it a temporary fix and stressed the need for a deeper solution for the red ball side.

“Those are like band aid solutions, right. I think where the Indian Test team is, we need a deeper solution, a more rounded one than just band aid fixes,” he said.

“I think it’s like treating the symptoms. It would be a knee jerk reaction to think along those lines. I don’t know whether that will happen or not, but that’s not how I see it.”

Speaking about India’s senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli heading into the 2027 World Cup, Dasgupta said there was never any question about their quality.

“I think most people never had a doubt about what they can do. They are absolute giants of the game, so it would be foolish to doubt their credentials,” he said.

“The big question is sustainability. I’m glad they are playing Vijay Hazare Trophy cricket and I hope they keep playing till 2027. Domestic cricket in India, maybe overseas, maybe England in the summer, along with international games until then.”

On Chennai Super Kings bringing in wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson, Dasgupta felt the franchise should not rush him into a leadership role and instead allow him time to settle.

“Obviously he will be part of the leadership group, but I would like to see him eased into that rather than being forced into it,” he said.

(With PTI Inputs)