One of the highlights of India’s team for the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2026 was Shubman Gill‘s omission. Prior to the Asia Cup in September of last year, the Punjabi batsman was selected captain of India’s Twenty20 squad. However, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee made the decision to fire him following his poor batting performances in the eight-team competition and the bilateral series against South Africa and Australia.
Yograj Singh, a former pacer for India, criticised the selectors for leaving out Gill.
The 67-year-old claimed that even after playing well in a small number of games, many cricket players are given plenty of chances to represent their nation. If Abhishek Sharma, the top-ranked hitter in T20Is, doesn’t play well in some games, will the selectors consider benching him?
“A vice captain is Shubman Gill. What made you decide to drop him? Because he didn’t make it through four or five innings? Many Indian cricket players have only been able to play in 10 out of 100 games. You already know why they continued to play. A few years ago, young Abhishek Sharma arrived. Will you also drop him if he doesn’t make it through four innings? On the Ravi Bisht YouTube channel, Yograj posed the question (via India Today).
Yograj used the renowned Kapil Dev as an example to highlight his argument, recollecting that the all-rounder was supported by Bishan Singh Bedi at the time even though he was going through a difficult time. Kapil went on to become one of the world’s best all-round seam bowlers.
Allow me to illustrate the “great” Kapil Dev for you. Even though Kapil Dev struggled with the bat and the ball, he still played when we toured Pakistan under Bishan Singh Bedi as captain. According to Yograj (from the previously mentioned source), Bishan Singh Bedi nevertheless accompanied him on the ensuing tour of England.
In the shortest format possible, Gill will try to move past the loss and concentrate on guiding India in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11.
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