Bold call or shocking selection?

Did Agarkar give in to the team’s demand?

During the post-match presentation of the IND vs SA 5th T20I in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav said something which hinted that Shubman Gill does not fit into the current T20I squad. With Gill nursing a foot injury, Sanju Samson returned and gave India a good start along with Abhishek Sharma. Samson scored 22 balls 37 with a strike rate of 168.18.

“Right from the start of the series, we wanted to stick to a particular brand of cricket and that’s exactly what we did. We didn’t try to do anything different. We wanted to express ourselves in all departments and the results are there, in front of everyone. That’s something we lacked in our last series. That’s exactly how we wanted to bat. Once someone gets going, they don’t stop. We wanted that relentless intent, and today, It worked wonderfully.” » said Suryakumar Yadav.

While Gill struggled to give India those good starts, the onus fell on Tilak Varma, especially with Suryakumar himself out of form. Since Gill’s sudden return to the T20I side for the 2025 Asia Cup, Samson has had to negotiate a place in the middle order. And he didn’t succeed. In his place, Jitesh Sharma was recruited. However, by dropping Shubman Gill, Ajit Agarkar chose to course correct 49 days before the T20 World Cup.

On social media, there have been endless debates about how Gill didn’t fit in with the team. Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa argued that Gill should play Virat Kohli’s role. Yet in the end, none of that mattered. Agarkar, who once forced Gill to join the settled side in T20Is, backed down and bowed to pressure from captain Suryakumar Yadav. Samson returned to his place. It must be noted that Gautam Gambhir has never spoken for or against either in the media, as is expected of a coach.

Why force Gill into the T20I side?

Ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup, Agarkar was optimistic when he announced Gill as vice-captain. It looked like Gill had sacrificed his place for Samson and for the Asia Cup, and he deservedly returned. To make him immune, Gill was also made vice-captain. But there were reasons. Gill exceeded all expectations in England, smashing over 700 runs in five Tests as India almost won the series. It was the man in dream form.

Three months later, that confidence has evaporated. Gill finished 2025 without a half-century, with an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26. In his final innings at Dharamshala, Gill scored 28 off 28 balls. What was supposed to be Gill’s all-format era ended in disappointment for many, including his fans.

However, more than Gill, it was the failure of the decision-makers. India’s fascination with forcing a player to play all formats has claimed another victim. As Gill changed shape and took on more responsibility, he relented. First he lost his physical form, then his form. Gill did not fit into the T20I side. He couldn’t follow the template set by Abhishek Sharma. But he was forced to join this team not only as a player but also as a vice-captain.

“We’re looking for continuity; we want a keeper who hits at the top. We know what a quality player Shubman is, even though he hasn’t found runs recently. It’s the combination more than anything else. Some people are going to miss a particular format because they’re playing in another. Let’s not make a big deal of it. Over the last few years, Gill has been the No. 1 hitter in the world. He knows what he needs to do, he knows what’s needed and, hopefully, by “Once the World Championships arrive, he will become No. 1 again,” Agarkar said on Saturday.