Tough for Gill, Jaiswal to break in

Bengaluru: For most cricketing nations, finding room for players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer in the T20 squad would be a no-brainer. For India, the problem is the exact opposite; too many options, not enough spots. It’s a luxury, but one that comes with its own headaches.

Gill and Jaiswal, with proven T20 credentials, have just returned from England with glowing numbers in Tests, reaffirming their class across formats. Iyer, meanwhile, lit up IPL 2025 with a run-making spree that demanded attention. On form alone, all three merit a look-in. Yet, with the Asia Cup squad likely to be announced on August 19, the question remains if any of them make the cut?

With three long-held spots having been vacated with the exits of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from the format, you would think that creates opportunities. But the reality is the current incumbents have done enough to keep their places.

The Asia Cup, to be staged in the UAE in T20 format, will mark the formal beginning of India’s build-up to the T20 World Cup next year, which they will co-host with Sri Lanka. There are still over six months to go before they defend the title won under a now-retired Rohit Sharma in 2024, so there’s no immediate rush. Along with the Asia Cup, India have a busy calendar with 15 T20Is lined up: five each against Australia (away), South Africa (home), and New Zealand (home).

The selectors will get enough chances to shuffle the combination. But for now, it could, at the most, boil down to a toss up between Gill and Jaiswal for the opening slot but one that isn’t technically open.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have seized that role with a firm grip. Abhishek’s 279 runs against England came at a ridiculous strike rate of 219.68, redefining powerplay hitting. Samson’s 216 at 194.59 against South Africa keeps him in the frame despite a poor England series. Add to that his hundred against Bangladesh, and the selectors may not want to disturb the pair at the top.

Jaiswal, who was a back-up opener in the last T20 World Cup, and Gill, who was captain and vice-captain during India’ Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka tours respectively, may consider themselves unlucky as a combination of Test commitments and the success of their replacements has prolonged their T20 wilderness that has lasted more than a year now. It’s a hard pill to swallow as you don’t want to be missing key international tournaments during your prime.

Iyer’s case is equally tricky. His purple patches in both the Champions Trophy and IPL were impossible to ignore. But No. 3 belongs to Tilak Varma, and No. 4 is locked with skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Tilak, with 280 runs at 198.58 against South Africa, including two hundreds, and a modest 133 at 131 SR versus England, has done enough to make the spot his own. And that’s before we even get to the lower order logjam. Four all-rounders are already jostling for spots, each bringing a unique skillset that the team management values.

The only place that has looked shaky is that of Rinku Singh. A combination of lack of opportunities to bat at the lower order and his own failure to grab the few that have his way, has put him in a spot but the selectors may still want to persist with him.

Such is India’s bench strength that KL Rahul, vocal about his T20 World Cup ambitions, and Rishabh Pant aren’t even part of this current conversation. While the Asia Cup squad announcement may or may not end the wait for Jaiswal, Gill or Iyer, the long road to the World Cup keeps the door open.