Former India captain and former chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth said he was “very shocked” by India’s decision to drop vice-captain Shubman Gill for the T20 World Cup, admitting he did not expect such a bold call from the selection committee. However, while expressing his surprise, Srikkanth also heaped praise on the Ajit Agarkar–led selection panel for picking what he described as a “fantastic” 15-member squad, adding that Gill would need to wait for his chance in T20 cricket.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand as well as the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7 and will be held in India and Sri Lanka. While many expected a routine squad featuring familiar names, the selection panel dropped a bombshell by omitting vice-captain Gill and recalling Ishan Kishan from the cold.

Gill, who was handed the Test and ODI captaincy earlier this year, was brought back into the T20 fold during the Asia Cup. Returning to the side after a year, he was immediately elevated to the role of vice-captain, underlining the faith the team management placed in him.

However, Gill struggled to live up to expectations in T20Is, managing 291 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of under 140. His inclusion also came at a cost, with India forced to break up the successful opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to accommodate the star batter at the top.

Despite India failing to consistently replicate the high-risk, high-tempo approach that had made them one of the most feared T20I sides in the world, the team management continued to back Gill. Eventually, however, the selectors made a significant U-turn, withdrawing their support and dropping him on the eve of a major tournament — a move rarely seen in Indian cricket.

“I was very shocked. This is a superb selection. I didn't expect they would drop Shubman Gill. They made him the vice-captain. Even during the tour of Australia, he was the vice-captain. Yes, Rinku Singh was in the team and Ishan Kishan wasn't even in the radar. But, fantastic selection, I should say. Well done Ajit Agarkar and Team India selection team!” Srikkanth said on his YouTube show.

“In one-day cricket, he (Gill) is great. In Tests, he scored truckloads in England. But, in T20Is, he has been struggling. His strike rate is nothing compared to Ishan Kishan or anybody else. That's where Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson take over. Abhishek is a certainty, the No. 1 in the world. Sanju and Ishan add wicketkeeper-opening batter combination,” Srikkanth added.

'VERY HAPPY FOR YOU, ISHAN'

The former chairman of selectors, who was part of the panel that picked India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, also credited the current selection committee for recognising domestic cricket performances and handing a lifeline to Ishan Kishan.

Ishan, who last played for India in 2023, earned a surprise recall just days after smashing a 46-ball century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final against Haryana in Pune. The wicketkeeper-batter topped the batting charts in the domestic T20 tournament, amassing 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a staggering strike rate of 197.32.

“Ishan Kishan's pick is a fantastic selection. He scored runs in domestic cricket and it means selectors are considering performances in domestic cricket. By sheer value of scores and performances, he has gotten back into the side. He didn't just score runs for himself, he ensured his team was winning. Well done, Ishan, very happy for you,” Srikkanth said.

“Don't forget, he vanished after scoring a double century (in ODIs). He was in the World Cup team.”

India did not name any back-ups for the T20 World Cup, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stressing that travelling reserves were unnecessary for a tournament being held largely at home.

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku SIngh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan

- Ends