"Like a table fan during a storm" - Former Indian batter's stunning claim on Shubman Gill ahead of AUS vs IND 2025 5th T20I

Former Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh made a stunning remark on Shubman Gill's batting in partnership with Abhishek Sharma ahead of the final T20I against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday, November 7. Ramesh believes Gill's batting goes unnoticed as long as Abhishek is going all guns blazing at the other end in the power play.

However, the former batter stated that India's powerplay batting, should Abhishek be dismissed early, with Gill batting, is ineffective. The duo have been opening the batting for India in T20Is since the recent 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE.

Talking about the Shubman Gill-Abhishek Sharma dynamic on his YouTube channel, Ramesh said:

"When the Abhishek Sharma storm strikes, India score big. Infact the Abhishek Sharma - Shubman Gill combination feels like a table fan (Gill) during a storm (Abhishek). So we also assume that the days the storm is in full force, the table fan is operating fine as there is a strong wind and hence no problems. But when the storm doesn't strike, we'll ask why there is no air coming out of the table fan in the powerplay."

Abhishek has been in blistering form in T20Is this year, averaging almost 46 at a strike rate of 197.04 in 16 outings. Meanwhile, his opening partner has struggled to get going since returning to the Indian T20I side in the Asia Cup, averaging under 26 at a strike rate of 139.39 in 11 games.

"Abhishek Sharma will be the biggest X-factor for India in the T20 World Cup" - Sadagoppan Ramesh

Sadagoppan Ramesh called Abhishek Sharma the biggest X-factor for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup at home next year. The 25-year-old has been impressive in T20Is since his debut last year, averaging 36.62 at an average of almost 190 in 28 matches.

"The powerplay is the most important phase with the bat in a T20 game. Depending on who the openers are and based on the start they give, if the rest of the batting lineup capitalises on it, the end score can be formidable. If a player like Abhishek Sharma maximises that phase, it transforms into powerful play. Yet if he gets out, it turns into a powercut. So Abhishek Sharma will be the biggest X-factor for India in the T20 World Cup," said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).

Abhishek has been hit-and-miss in the ongoing Australian series, yet boasts an excellent average of 35 at a strike rate of 159.09 in four games. Team India leads the five-match series 2-1, heading into the series finale (one No-result).

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran