'Shubman Gill was getting tired. It'll sound controversial...retire him out': Simon Doull
Doull reiterated his milestone theory in a fresh jibe targetting Shubman Gill, who scored 94 runs in the match against Lucknow Super Giants.
Crickate
T20 has changed significantly over the years. If only batting is considered, strike rate and boundary percentage are more indicative of a performance than the number of fifties scored in a tournament. The current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has demonstrated this on numerous occasions.
In fact, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has repeatedly stated that fifties and centuries should no longer be regarded a landmark in Twenty20 cricket. On Sunday, he repeated the same insult, this time aimed at Gujarat Titans batsman Shubman Gill, who scored 94 runs against Lucknow Super Giants.
Gill began slowly and struggled to find boundaries on what appeared to be a belter given the manner in which his companion Wriddhiman Shah was batting on the Ahmedabad pitch. GT scored 78 runs without losing a wicket during the powerplay, their highest score in that phase in IPL history; Saha scored 54 runs off 23 balls. Gill, on the other hand, converted 22 of 13 shots. Gill only relaxed against Ravi Bishnoi in the ninth over when he hit two sixes.
The teenager ultimately scored 94 off 51 balls, hitting seven sixes and two fours, as GT amassed 227 for two in 20 overs. However, in a conversation with Cricbuzz, Doull stated that he was not overly impressed with Gill's knock in which he labored to score boundaries.
The veteran cricketer explained that teams should utilize the option of retiring a batter if he is unable to attempt large shots, pointing out that Rahul Tewatia could have been brought in to boost their score slightly.
"Shubman was becoming weary. He was unable to strike the boundaries as frequently as he desired. And it is possible. Listen...this may be controversial, but I am waiting for the day when a man scores 75 or 80 off 45 balls, is exhausted after the afternoon heat of 45 degrees, and therefore can't quite get there, so he says, "Okay Tewatia, you're out there." "Retire him," he stated.
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Doull also emphasized that hundreds are only significant in cricket if they occur in a winning effort.
"As I've repeatedly stated, milestones do not matter in this game. I am aware that people will continue to assert that a hundred is a hundred. Yes, but a hundred dollars if you win. If you lose, it means nada. When a man says he is exhausted and unable to push the limits, I feel that we've reached our limit. And if you have ammunition on hand, why not use it?" he continued.
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