Axar Patel file photo
Credit: PTI Photo
Bengaluru: The Ajit Agarkar-led Indian selection panel sprang a surprise by dropping the team’s designated vice-captain, Shubman Gill, for the forthcoming T20 World Cup. It was a highly unexpected decision, but a welcome one nonetheless, given what is at stake.
All-rounder Axar Patel, who was the team’s vice-captain before being replaced by Gill during the Asia Cup, got the job back, while in-form Ishan Kishan was rewarded with a second wicketkeeper’s slot. The second wicketkeeper-batter until the South Africa series, Jitesh Sharma ceded his place to the Jharkhand cricketer, while Rinku Singh returned to the squad as a designated finisher after being part of the victorious Indian squad in the Asia Cup.
Though Agarkar conceded that Gill was short on runs, he attributed the Punjab batter’s omission to the team’s combination. Few would have been convinced by Agarkar’s explanation.
“We know what a quality player he is, but perhaps he is a little short of runs at the moment,” said Agarkar after the announcement of the team in Mumbai on Saturday.
“He is unfortunate to have missed out on the last World Cup as well because we went with different combinations. 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,” he added.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has also endured a prolonged lean patch, echoed a similar opinion.
“Post T20 WC (2024), we went to Sri Lanka and we scored 200 (213), and Gill was part of it. We wanted to have a keeper at the top and Rinku or Washy down the order, which is why we have an extra keeper at the top. There is no question of Gill’s form,” said Suryakumar whose reply was as reassuring as his own form.
So, are we to believe that Gill would have been dropped even if he had been among big runs? While Gill may feel aggrieved by his omission, there was no need to be so defensive about a decision that is refreshingly bold and made absolute cricketing sense.
Dwelling on his own form, Surya admitted that his poor run had lasted a “little longer” and that he would “bounce back.”
“I know what to do and I will do it. You will definitely see Surya the batter, but this phase has lasted a little longer. Other players have also bounced back in form in the past. I know I am batting beautifully in the nets,” he noted.
The inclusion of Kishan, who plundered 517 runs in Jharkhand’s victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali campaign, was another welcome decision.
“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,” offered Agarkar.
India, who will be defending the title they won in the Americas in 2024 under Rohit Sharma, boast a balanced side for the sub-continental conditions. Barring Surya, the top four are in solid form. The clutch of all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar provides depth in both bowling and batting, while Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav offer great bowling variety.
The same team will play the five-match series against a visiting New Zealand (from January 21) ahead of the biennial ICC showpiece event which will commence from February 7 with Sri Lanka being the co-hosts.
Keeping in mind it is a home tournament, the BCCI has decided not to announce any stand-by players.
India's squad for the T20 World Cup and the five-match series against New Zealand: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk).