Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has backed the selection of in-form Ishan Kishan in India’s T20 World Cup squad, while former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh praised the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for making the “tough but necessary” call of leaving out Shubman Gill.
The selectors recalled wicketkeeper-batter Kishan and included finisher Rinku Singh, while dropping Gill, India’s Test and ODI captain, after his struggles in the shortest format. Kishan, who had spent much of the year out of favour due to fitness and availability concerns, forced his way back with a standout Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, leading Jharkhand to their maiden title with a match-winning century.
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Sunil Gavaskar, Harbhajan back selectors’ tough calls
“When you see someone performing, you pick him,” Gavaskar said as a JioStar expert. “Ishan Kishan has been there before and shown that he can deliver. That’s a big plus. His form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy shows that domestic cricket must matter in selections, not just the IPL.”
Gavaskar expressed happiness at Kishan’s comeback after a long absence. “He was out of the team for a couple of years, but he made a fantastic return by captaining Jharkhand to a title-winning season,” he said.
While terming Gill’s omission a surprise, Gavaskar suggested that a lack of rhythm may have worked against him. “He is a quality, classic batter and had a strong phase after the 2024 T20 World Cup. But in T20 cricket, if you are not in rhythm and can’t attack from the start, it becomes difficult,” he said, adding that Gill’s natural game is more suited to longer formats.
Gavaskar also sympathised with Jitesh Sharma, who missed out despite solid performances behind the stumps. “He did nothing wrong. He’s a very good wicketkeeper and excellent with DRS calls. It’s tough on him, but he’s young and needs to keep performing in domestic cricket.”
Harbhajan Singh, meanwhile, gave the selection panel full marks for prioritising team balance. “I give Ajit Agarkar and the management 10 out of 10,” Harbhajan said. “Leaving out Shubman Gill would not have been easy, but team combination comes first.”
Harbhajan welcomed the inclusion of Kishan and Rinku, pointing to their ability to provide power and flexibility. “With Gill out, you need a wicketkeeper who can bat aggressively at the top. Ishan fits that role perfectly. Rinku is also a great addition. Axar Patel as vice-captain is another smart call,” he said.
The former spinner urged Gill to treat the setback as motivation rather than disappointment. “Being left out doesn’t make Gill a lesser player. We know his quality. This is a small setback, not the end. If anything, this could be the beginning of something bigger for him.”
(By PTI Inputs)
