Former Indian player Kris Srikkanth has criticized Shubman Gill over his appointment as the vice-captain of the Indian T20I side. Srikkanth, the former selector, feels this position has affected the flexibility of selections in the Indian team.
Indian Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill failed to score as many runs as desired in the Indian T20I side. Ever since his return to the team of the shortest format of the game, Gill has been offered vice-captaincy as well as an opening position in the side. However, Shubman Gill could not make a single statement in favor of his appointment on the side.
Instead, former players as well as critics have urged the Indian selectors to reconsider Yashasvi Jaiswal for the T20I team or else promote Sanju Samson back into the opening role; however, what has been the major hindrance has been the vice-captaincy.
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“He’s a certainty or else on what basis has he been appointed the vice-captain?” – Kris Srikkanth on Shubman Gill
Srikkanth believed that appointing Shubman Gill as their T20I skipper has been a hindrance to the flexible selections by the Indian selectors, as he could not be snubbed from the team despite a weak patch.
For Shubman Gill, things have gone south since the Indian star has averaged just 24.14 in the shortest format of the game after 9 games since the Asia Cup and the India tour of Australia 2025.
“They won’t drop Shubman Gill for the next three games. They are not worried about anything else. He is the vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, that’s fixed now. It’s also fixed that he’s the future T20I captain. So they have to play with him and build the balance for the rest of the side. He’s a certainty, or else on what basis has he been appointed the vice-captain?” said Srikkanth in his YouTube channel.
Srikkanth again calls for Yashasvi Jaiswal’s selection in the T20I squad
The former Indian selector believes that players like Yashasvi Jaiswal are waiting in the queue to be picked for the T20I side. Shubman Gill’s inclusion has also affected the balance in the Indian batting order. He has also mocked India, saying that they will escape since the T20 World Cup is in India.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting in the wings. He’s not there in the team. With Gill’s inclusion, the overall balance has gone for a toss, so they aren’t sure of what to do. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma don’t have a fixed position, and Arshdeep Singh is missing out on the 11. The only good thing is the T20 World Cup is in India, so they’ll escape,” he added.
Alongside the former Indian player, several fans, as well as other cricket critics, have claimed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s snub from the T20I XI to be unfortunate. He is not a part of the playing despite a stunning record with an average of 36 and a spectacular strike rate of 164.31.
“India has a lot of players like Abhishek. If players like Yashasvi Jaiswal are given an opportunity, they’ll utilise it. But now he has no window to come into the side. Only Hardik Pandya can come into the 11 and nobody else. Jaiswal also came through the IPL and has an outstanding record in all formats and the IPL. I am not sure why he isn’t playing with a brilliant IPL and T20I record. Give him the same opportunities, he’ll destroy bowlers at the top,” said Srikkanth.
Will Arshdeep Singh be considered for a Team India return?
Premier Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh has been snubbed from the Indian T20I side constantly despite being their most successful bowler in the format. This decision has been severely criticized, and Srikkanth believes that this will continue throughout the Australia series as well.
“They’ll keep picking Harshit Rana for his batting. Arshdeep is not going to play in the entire series. To play him, you’ve to drop Harshit Rana. Or else, you’ve to play Harshit Rana as your No. 7. Will they go for that option? It’s hard to comprehend what they are doing,” said Srikkanth.
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