Dhoni’s Disciple Destroys Gill, Indian Vice-Captain Falls Early Against Sri Lanka

Sports News:  India had high hopes from vice-captain Shubman Gill. He entered the match in fine form after consistent scores in the tournament. On Friday against Sri Lanka, fans expected another solid innings. But Gill struggled to settle and looked uncomfortable right from the start. He lost his wicket in only the second over of the innings. This early dismissal silenced the crowd inside the stadium. It was a big blow for India’s top order. The disappointment was visible among the supporters.

Dhoni’s student makes the impact

The bowler who dismissed Gill was Maheesh Theekshana. Known as MS Dhoni’s disciple from his Chennai Super Kings days, Theekshana has credited Dhoni for shaping his game. Under Dhoni’s guidance, he matured as a mystery spinner. Against Gill, his dominance has been very clear. He once again proved his sharpness by striking early. This wicket underlined how Dhoni’s teachings echo through his student’s performance. Gill, on the other hand, could do nothing to stop him.

Catch that changed the game

The dismissal came with a stunning moment of athleticism. Theekshana bowled a delivery outside off stump in the second over. Gill tried to drive it past him with confidence. The ball met the middle of the bat but didn’t escape. Diving to his left, Theekshana plucked a brilliant catch off his own bowling. The crowd erupted, but Indian fans were left stunned. The catch quickly became the turning point of the powerplay. Gill’s dismissal brought Sri Lanka early control.

Gill vs Theekshana record

The numbers paint a telling picture of Gill’s struggles. So far, Theekshana has bowled 10 deliveries to Gill. From them, Gill has managed only 10 runs. He has also lost his wicket twice in those brief battles. Clearly, Theekshana has created a psychological edge over the young Indian vice-captain. Gill often finds it hard to rotate the strike. His dismissals against this bowler have become a trend. The record shows Theekshana has Gill’s measure.

Gill’s good form interrupted

Until this match, Shubman Gill was enjoying a strong Asia Cup campaign. He had scored consistently and given India solid starts. His partnerships with fellow opener Abhishek Sharma had troubled opponents. Both players, coming from Punjab, share a long cricketing bond. Their chemistry helped India dominate early overs. But against Sri Lanka, the partnership broke down too soon. They could add only 15 runs before Gill’s wicket fell. It halted India’s early momentum in the game.