It wasn’t a memorable outing with the bat for Shubman Gill on his T20I debut. In the first T20I against Sri Lanka, at the Wankhede, the 23-year-old Gill was given his T20I debut cap; Gill was selected in the playing XI ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad and the uncapped Rahul Tripathi and Rajat Patidar.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to field first, citing the dew was a key factor driving his decision. India’s interim skipper Hardik Pandya, on the other hand, said he was going to bat first anyway, as the team wants to “put ourselves in more difficult situations generally in bilaterals”.
Along with Shubman Gill, young pacer Shivam Mavi too got his India debut cap, playing instead of Arshdeep Singh, who was not fit for the game as he is suffering from an “illness,” the board said.
Teams:
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
India (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal
Shubman Gill couldn’t make an impact with the bat on his T20I debut, gets roasted by fans

Ishan Kishan started off the innings in his trademark gung-ho fashion, cracking 16 runs (plus a wide) from the first over itself with the help of a six and two fours to Kasun Rajitha. From the other end, Shubman Gill, too, got off the mark in a dreamy style: a crispy cover drive for four of the first legal ball he faced from pacer Dilshan Madushanka.
In the next over, though, Gill was trapped lbw by a carrom ball from off-spinner/mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who gave Sri Lanka their first breakthrough and put a jam on the run-rate early on. Gill also wasted India’s review as the umpire’s decision was upheld.
Shubman Gill had a terrific IPL 2022, helping the Gujarat TItans win the tournament. However, many fans still feel GIll needs to be more consistent in T20 format and also up his strike rate.
Trollers of Shubman Gill popped up as he got out for only 7(5) on his debut:
SHUBHMAN GILL ISN’T A T20 PLAYER!!
— ♪ (@KahinDoorJab) January 3, 2023
Not a Good Debut for Shubman Gill in T20I cricket.#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/ofGGpg8UW1
— Over Thinker Lawyer 🇵🇰 (@Mujha_q_Nakala) January 3, 2023
With this team India can never win.
Subhman Gill is an outstanding batsman but in T-20 selecting Gill above Gaikwad(who is in red hot form)is just worst decision by management team.
#INDvSL— Gopal (@GopalKrishnam7) January 3, 2023
Shubhman gill is T20 player 🤣
— Prathmesh Kharote (@prathmesh__mk) January 3, 2023
Rajat >>>> Gill pic.twitter.com/piwfvTU9RI
— 🇱🇰 (@CaptainVK18) January 3, 2023
Very Bad Drs from Shubman Gill …#INDvSL#TeamIndia
— Mudit 🇮🇳 (@MuditHastir) January 3, 2023
Not a memorable start for Shubman Gill in his T20I career 🤯
📸: Disney + Hotstar#CricketTwitter #indvssl pic.twitter.com/Gdnokv53cC
— Arman Malik (@Armanmalik9582) January 3, 2023
Rutu should be choosen .gill haven’t prove yet in t20s what Ruturaj has proven #INDvSL
— Omkar Rane (@OmkarRa77667686) January 3, 2023
yesterday you were saying gill is good and today after one failed game, see how you turn your words
— a (@nushhhhhhhhhh) January 3, 2023
Gill playing instead of generational talent Ruturaj Gaikwad 😭 pic.twitter.com/fji4QJ0BSA
— LA LA LAND ☭ (@Pratikeighteen) January 3, 2023
Definitely wrong selection with Gill
— Manjunath Ram (@ManjunathRam2) January 3, 2023
Overrated Gill got out to off spin
Ruturaj Gaikwad should be there. You unpredictable and unprofessional selectors 🤣#INDvSL
— Mohan Nani (@mohanani398) January 3, 2023
New lobby in making.
Why shubham gill before Rahul Tripathi
Again favourite culture— Shivam patel (@Patels773Shivam) January 3, 2023