Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and team management deserve ‘10 out of 10’ for the changes made to the side selected for next year’s T20 World Cup, where they enter as defending champions.
Positive Changes
Harbhajan expressed his satisfaction with the return of Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan, along with Axar Patel being appointed vice-captain. He noted that it’s not the end of the road for Shubman Gill in the shortest format. Gill was appointed as the deputy to skipper Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the Asia Cup in September but did not breach the 50-run mark. In the recently concluded 3-1 series win over South Africa, Gill scored 4, 0, and 28 before missing the fifth match due to a right foot injury.
“I give chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the management 10 out of 10. It must have been tough to leave out Shubman Gill, but it is not the end for him in T20s. The team combination was the priority. I am very happy Rinku Singh is in the team, and Ishan Kishan has also returned,” said Harbhajan.
Team Balance
He added, “With Gill out, you need a powerful hitter at the top who can also keep wicket, so these two changes are good. Having Axar Patel as vice-captain is a very good decision. Overall, they have done a very good job. I hope the team plays well and wins the cup.”
Harbhajan acknowledged that Gill’s exclusion from the T20 WC squad and the series against New Zealand was based on team balance rather than his batting abilities. “Shubman Gill being left out does not make him a lesser player. We know his quality in any format. He is a very well-prepared player. When he plays, he can outshine others. This is not the end for him. A player will feel this setback, but I am sure the management or Ajit Agarkar will talk to him.”
Looking Ahead
“He should use this as motivation to become even better. If I could tell him, I would say this is the beginning of something big for him,” he said.
Saba Karim, the former India wicketkeeper-batter and national selector, shared his perspective on why India’s last-minute changes for the T20 World Cup were a brave and necessary decision. “The selection committee first looks at the top-order batters, especially in T20. Once they decided they needed a wicketkeeper to open, everything else fell into place. This looks like a course correction, and it is a bold call.”
“My compliments to Ajit Agarkar and the committee, because we rarely see two big changes just before a World Cup. They have relied on current form and solid backup options. Everyone knows Shubman Gill is a class player, but he was tried in the T20 setup and failed to meet expectations.”
“This is a massive course correction, and I am glad they did it before the World Cup. It was a huge call, but they have picked a strong 15 that can help India retain the title,” he concluded.