“Maybe he’s not accustomed to the bounce” - AB de Villiers’ blunt remark on Team India star after AUS vs IND 2025 2nd T20I

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has defended India's vice-captain Shubman Gill following his failure in the second T20I against Australia in Melbourne on Friday, October 31. The cricketer-turned-analyst acknowledged that the right-handed batter is going through a lean patch with the bat over the last few games. The 41-year-old, however, believes that Gill will be able to overcome his weakness Down Under by adjusting mentally or technically over the next few games.

The statement came after Gill departed for just five runs off 10 balls he faced in the second T20I. The 26-year-old also flopped in the ODI series against the Aussies, managing scores of 10, 9, and 24 in his three outings. Surprisingly, Gill has been caught out on all occasions. He, however, scored a quickfire 37* off 20 deliveries in the rain-abandoned first T20I in Canberra.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers said:

“There are good wickets in Australia. Maybe he’s not completely accustomed to the kind of bounce. There must be something, or he’s just human… We expect Shubman to score runs every single day.” “So, maybe Shubman Gill is going through a patch like that, and he’ll work it out, guys. He’s a class player, class leader, and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will be back. I think it’s more of a mental thing than technical. If it’s technical, he’ll get to the nets and sort it out. I don’t see any reflex. Yes, the performance is not there in the recent and short-term past, but there is plenty of cricket ahead. Plenty to look forward to, and it’s just up to him to sort of freshen up,” he added.

Notably, Gill has managed just 169 runs in his nine T20Is in 2025. The Indian opener averages 24.14 but has an impressive strike rate of 148.25.

“On what basis has he been appointed the vice-captain?” – World Cup winner slams India opener

Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has slammed Shubman Gill’s elevation as T20I vice-captain following his recent failures in the shortest format. The 65-year-old slammed the team management for affecting the team balance by including him in the T20Is, adding that Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting on the sidelines. The 1983 World Cup-winning player said on his YouTube channel:

“They won't drop Gill for the next three games. They are not worried about anything else. He is the vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, that's fixed now. It's also fixed that he's the future T20I captain. So they have to play with him and build the balance for the rest of the side. He's a certainty, or else on what basis has he been appointed the vice-captain?” “Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting in the wings. He's not there in the team. With Gill's inclusion, the overall balance has gone for a toss, so they aren't sure of what to do. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma don't have a fixed position, and Arshdeep Singh is missing out on the 11,” he added.

Meanwhile, the third T20I between India and Australia has been scheduled to be played in Hobart on Sunday, November 2.

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Edited by James Kuanal