Shubman Gill piled on runs in the series against England in the red-ball series, and for the Asia Cup, later he returned to the T20I side and was made the vice-captain. Since returning to the side, Gill could not manage to get a half-century in the format and was axed from the T20 World Cup side as a result. Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting said that he could not believe that Gill was dropped from the T20I squad.
“I couldn’t believe that. I mean, I know his recent form hasn’t been great in white-ball cricket. The last time that I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK, where he batted as well as I’ve ever seen anybody bat. I think, one, I’m surprised, but two, it just shows the depth of Indian cricket,” Ponting said on ICC Review.
“If you can think that someone as good as Shubman Gill doesn’t get picked in a World Cup squad, then it goes to show how many good players they do have,” he added.
What did Ajit Agarkar say
“We know what a quality player he is, but, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment. It’s unfortunate to have missed out in the last World Cup as well because we went with different combinations. But it’s the combinations more than anything else…Someone has to miss out when you pick 15 and unfortunately, it’s Gill at this point,” said Ajit Agarkar in the press conference for India’s squad announcement for the T20 World Cup.
“We are looking at the combination. If the keeper is going to bat at the top, at the moment Jitesh is there and he has not done too much wrong. But we need to look at the combination and a keeper at the top,” said the former India pacer.