Media365
Batter Shubman Gill’s lean patch in T20Is continued on Thursday as the opener was dismissed for a golden duck in the second T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur, triggering a wave of criticism and trolling on social media. Gill lasted only one delivery before Lungi Ngidi found his outside edge with a perfectly pitched good-length ball that nipped away, leaving Reeza Hendricks to complete a sharp catch at slip.
The dismissal, more reminiscent of a Test-match setup, renewed concerns over Gill’s form in the shortest format, with fans expressing frustration online.In the first T20I, Gill could only score four runs in two balls. Gill’s early exit came in the shadow of a formidable batting display from South Africa, who piled up 213 for 4 after being put in to bat. The innings was dominated by Quinton de Kock, who produced a scintillating 90 off 46 balls, showcasing his full range on a true batting surface. De Kock, who has recently re-emerged in international cricket after reversing his ODI retirement, unleashed seven sixes, several of them dispatched effortlessly over deep square leg. His timing and clean hitting kept India under pressure through the powerplay and beyond.India’s bowlers struggled collectively, conceding 123 runs in the final 10 overs. Arshdeep Singh, who had dismissed de Kock in the series opener, endured a particularly difficult outing. After being launched for a straight six early in his spell, he completely lost rhythm in the 11th over, spraying seven wides and giving away 18 runs in a 13-ball over. Jasprit Bumrah, usually India’s most dependable option in the death overs, also had an uncharacteristic off day, yielding 18 runs in the final over as Donovan Ferreira (30 not out off 16) went on the attack.De Kock’s innings ended in an unusual run-out while attempting a non-existent single, but the momentum he generated carried South Africa comfortably past the 200 mark. Late bursts from Ferreira and David Miller (20 not out off 12) ensured the visitors finished strongly, setting India a steep chase, one made even tougher by Gill’s early departure.
