India vice-captain Shubman Gill’s poor form continued on Thursday as he was dismissed for a golden duck in the 2nd T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur. Chasing 214, Gill edged a delivery from Lungi Ngidi to first slip, where Reeza Hendricks took a sharp catch.
Since returning to the T20I side, the 25-year-old has played 14 innings, averaging just 23 and hasn’t scored a half-century. Fans expressed frustration over his batting struggles and questioned whether the team management should keep backing him.
How social media reacts
A user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Sorry but Shubman Gill is not the future of Indian Cricket”.
Sorry but Shubman Gill is not the future of Indian Cricket. pic.twitter.com/PDxpSG3sc1
— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) December 11, 2025
Another user said, “Even today, Virat Kohli is 100 times better T20I batter than Shubman Gill. But commentators & media with all the pressure tactics forced him to take retirement at just 35”.
Even today, Virat Kohli is 100 times better T20I batter than Shubman Gill.
But commentators & media with all the pressure tactics forced him to take retirement at just 35. pic.twitter.com/O8CHse9kbL
— Suprvirat (@Mostlykohli) December 11, 2025
One more user shared frustration saying, “Even Pakistanis field better than Shubman Gill”.
Even Pakistanis field better than Shubman Gill 😭 pic.twitter.com/JuBblnqkd4
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) December 11, 2025
Another post surfaced, “Shubman Gill :- Can’t Bat, Can’t Bowl, Can’t Field. One Of The Worst T20I Players. This Fraud Is Taking The Place Of Other Deserving Players,” a user wrote.
Users are also demanding the cricket board to replace Gill with Sanju Samson. A user wrote, “In T20s, drop Shubman Gill and play Sanju Samson instead”.
Another user shared similar sentiments saying, “How Sanju Samson got replaced by Shubman Gill despite Gill doing nothing in T20I cricket. And Sanju Samson is the guy who has scored back-to-back hundreds and three hundreds out of eleven innings. Favouritism needs to end by the BCCI”.
THIS PICTURE SAYS A LOT ,
HOW SANJU SAMSON GOT REPLACED BY SHUBMAN GILL EVEN DOING NOTHING IN T20I CRICKET.
AND SANJU SAMSON THE GUY WHO HAS SCORED BACK TO BACK 💯 & 3 💯 OUT OF 11.
FAVOURITISM NEEDS TO END BY BCCI.#INDvsSA #INDvSA #ShubmanGill#IndianCricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/qjBtYGTjbj
— KAPIL DEV TAMRAKAR 🇮🇳 (@kapildevtamkr) December 11, 2025
De Kock’s dominant knock
Earlier, South African opener Quinton de Kock scored a brilliant 90 off 46 balls, taking his team to a strong total of 213 for four. On a true pitch, de Kock showed his attacking flair, hitting most of his seven sixes to deep square leg.
De Kock, who recently reversed his ODI retirement and was unsure about continuing in T20s after last year’s World Cup, looks determined and in top form. This innings, coming just before the mini-auction, is likely to attract attention from franchises, potentially sparking a bidding war for the versatile player.
He seemed on course to reach a second T20 century but was run out in an unusual way by India’s wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma while attempting a non-existent single.
Even after de Kock’s dismissal, South Africa kept the big hits coming, with Donavan Ferreira scoring 30 off 16 and David Miller finishing 20 not out off 12 in the death overs.
India’s new-ball bowler Arshdeep Singh also had a tough day, with his partner Jasprit Bumrah giving away 18 runs in the 20th over after Ferreira hit two massive sixes.
