New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) Renowned Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his astonishment regarding Shubman Gill’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup roster, indicating that his recent lack of form and touch might have influenced this decision for the right-handed opener.

During a press conference at the BCCI headquarters on Saturday, Gill’s absence from the T20 World Cup and the upcoming series against New Zealand became a significant topic of discussion. Following his return from the Asia Cup, Gill faced challenges, managing only a top score of 47 across 15 innings.

“It’s unexpected. He is a quintessential, talented batter who enjoyed a brilliant season following the 2024 T20 World Cup. Admittedly, he faced difficulties in several matches against South Africa. However, class is enduring, while form is fleeting. Additionally, he was returning from an extended break, which left him out of sync,” stated Gavaskar.

“In T20 cricket, where aggression is pivotal from the outset, being out of rhythm is detrimental. His natural playing style aligns more with Test cricket, focusing on ground strokes. The explosive shots required in T20 might not come as intuitively to him. Nevertheless, he is a commendable player, as demonstrated in the IPL, thus T20 is not an alien format for him. Perhaps, it was merely that lack of form and touch that worked against him,” he added on JioStar.

In light of Gill’s absence, Axar Patel was appointed as India’s vice-captain. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar later clarified that the management's preference for a wicketkeeper to open the innings led to Gill’s omission. This decision also resulted in Ishan Kishan making his return to the India T20I squad following a hiatus since November 2023.

Kishan recorded 517 runs in 10 innings during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he successfully captained Jharkhand to victory. “When a player performs, he deserves selection. Ishan Kishan has been part of the squad previously and has proven his capabilities. This is a significant advantage,” commented Gavaskar.

“His current performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy illustrates that selection should prioritize domestic cricket achievements, rather than focusing solely on the IPL. I am thrilled for him. After a couple of years away from the team, he has made a remarkable comeback by leading his state team, Jharkhand, to a championship-winning season,” Gavaskar remarked.

As India's plans evolve, the notable omission of Jitesh Sharma surfaced, with left-handed batter Rinku Singh being included to enhance middle-order strength. “I empathize with Jitesh Sharma. He has not erred; he showcased excellent wicketkeeping skills in his opportunities and was arguably the best at assisting the captain with DRS calls post MS Dhoni. It’s a tough situation for him, but he is young and must revert to domestic cricket to continue his performance,” Gavaskar concluded.