Old India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was with great admiration for Shubman Gill following the young opener firmly dominating Shaheen Afridi in India’s high-intensity match against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Gill maintained his outstanding form, scoring a solidly built 46 off 52 balls, dotted with seven boundaries.
His 69-run second-wicket partnership with Virat Kohli proved to be the turning point in the game and helped anchor India’s stance in the game. What stood out was Gill’s approach against Pakistan’s pace spearhead. All seven of his boundaries came off Afridi, as he used his footwork smartly and displayed a wide range of strokes.
Breaking down Shubman Gill’s batting brilliance, Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out how the batter anticipated Afridi’s short delivery but quickly adapted to a fuller ball, showcasing his remarkable balance and technique.
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“See his hands—the manner in which he gets the bat from outside off, further away from the body than the last ball. His feet push back, expecting a short ball from Shaheen Afridi. His hands show he’s set to pull, and his footwork shows he’s set to go back. Afridi sees this and goes fuller instead.”. But Gill, rather than committing to the pull, adjusts nicely and flicks it away,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained on his YouTube show ‘Ash ki Baat.’
Gill has been sensational in ODIs this year, scoring 406 runs in a mere five innings at an astounding average of 101.50 and strike rate of 94.19. Already he has scored two centuries and two half-centuries in 2025, including a match-winning 101* against Bangladesh in India’s tournament opener.
His recent adventures also got him the Player of the Series award in India’s 3-0 whitewash against England, in which he led the way with 259 runs at a stunning average of 86.33.
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With India qualifying for the semi-finals, courtesy of New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh, Gill’s run will be crucial as they prepare for their knockout encounter on March 4 in Dubai against the second team from Group B.
