NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim has lauded Shubman Gill's leadership in the T20I series against Zimbabwe but highlighted the need for more consistency in his batting.
Gill, who captained the young Indian team to a 4-1 series win in his first outing as captain, emerged as the highest run-getter with 170 runs at an average of 42.5 and a strike-rate of 125.93.
Karim commended Gill on his leadership and handling of pressure, especially after India lost the first T20I.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Karim remarked, "Shubman Gill as a captain and a batter. I was expecting a little more consistency in Shubman Gill's batting. That was a little lacking. However, he performed fantastically as a captain. Pressure mounts on any captain after losing the first match, and that too a young captain."
Despite his critique of Gill's batting consistency, Karim was impressed by how the young skipper managed the team through challenging situations.
"He got his players to rally splendidly," Karim added, emphasizing Gill's ability to motivate and lead the team effectively.
Karim also praised Yashasvi Jaiswal, who joined the series mid-tour and immediately found form.
"Jaiswal scoring runs. He didn't get a chance in the World Cup. When you haven't batted for a long time and haven't played matches, it's not easy to show form as soon as you come. However, we saw that," Karim elaborated, highlighting Jaiswal's impressive performance under difficult circumstances.
1/10:India complete 4-1 series win over Zimbabwe
AP
2/10:Shubman Gill
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"It was an excellent series," said Gill. "The hunger that we showed after the first loss was phenomenal. A lot of the players had long flights and they weren't used to conditions. The way they adapted was remarkable."</p>AFP
3/10:Sanju Samson
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">India made 167 for six after being sent in on Sunday. Sanju Samson top-scored with 58 off 45 balls. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 125.</p>AFP
4/10:Yashasvi Jaiswal
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The final match got off to an extraordinary start when Yashasvi Jaiswal hit sixes off the first two deliveries. </p>PTI
5/10:Sikandar Raza
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza was smashed for two sixes but Raza fired in a quicker yorker and bowled Jaiswal for 12 three balls later.</p>AP
6/10:Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag
<p>India lost their first three wickets for 40 runs before Samson and Riyan Parag (22) added 65 for the fourth wicket. <br /><br /><br /></p>ANI
7/10:Shivam Dube
<p><br /><br /> Shivam Dube hammered an unbeaten 26 off 12 balls at the end of the innings. He followed up with two wickets and was named player of the match.<br /><br /><br /></p>Agencies
8/10:Blessing Muzarabani
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Tall fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani was again Zimbabwe's best bowler, taking two for 19 in four overs. He took six wickets in the series and conceded only six runs an over.</p>AFP
9/10:Mukesh Kumar
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Mukesh Kumar took the first two Zimbabwe wickets in his first two overs and then finished off the match with two more in his final over. He finished as India's joint leading wicket taker in the series.</p>Agencies
