'Body language changed' - Former India opener feels Shubman Gill is under pressure after replacing Rohit Sharma as ODI captain

AUS vs IND 2025: Shubman Gill (Source: Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth feels Shubman Gill should just trust his natural instincts and not put too much pressure on himself. Despite being in fine Test cricket nick, Gill has been underwhelming with the bat in recent times.

However, Srikkanth highlighted how Gill's dismissal in Sydney was more about the ball being a wicket-taking one than the batter playing a false shot. He also felt that Gill is carrying the extra burden of replacing Rohit Sharma as ODI captain.

"After performing in England, probably he is also putting pressure on himself. He shouldn't do that and just play his game. He actually played well today but just got a superb delivery from Hazlewood. More than Shubman Gill getting himself out, it was a wicket-taking delivery that got him. But he does look to be under pressure, just observing his body language because he has replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain, while also opening alongside him," stated Srikkanth in a video on his YouTube channel.

The ex-India skipper also felt that critics commenting on Yashasvi Jaiswal's slot being eaten up by Gill might also be weighing him down. Srikkanth felt Gill will get back into his groove with a few big scores in the upcoming series against the Proteas.   

"And on the other side, everyone is asking why Yashasvi Jaiswal isn't playing. All that adds to his pressure. But he'll get over it as he's a fantastic player. He should just play his normal game because he's getting his strides and shots right. He's just getting out, that's the only thing. Once he produces a couple of big knocks at home against South Africa, he'll be set again," he added.

Gill emerged as the top-scorer with 754 runs in 10 innings in the five-Test tour of England. He had also scored a fifty and a century in two of the three innings played against West Indies earlier this month.

However, Gill has not been able to translate his red-ball form in the white-ball segment. He scored only 127 runs in seven matches in India's title-winning Asia Cup 2025 campaign and mustered only 43 runs in the recently-concluded 50-over series against Australia.