New Delhi: With fresh T20 prospects constantly pushing their way into the spotlight, team selection has become increasingly complex for India’s selectors. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels Shubman Gill—currently in striking form during IPL 2026—still merits a role in India’s T20I plans. Ashwin’s comments also come amid a crowded mix of emerging batters such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya, established contenders like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma, and the ongoing presence of senior wicketkeeper Sanju Samson in the conversation.
Key takeaways
- Ashwin argues that Shubman Gill, in strong touch during IPL 2026, deserves consideration for India’s T20I setup.
- Gill was left out of India’s T20I plans ahead of the home series versus New Zealand, which happened before the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- In IPL 2026, Gill has amassed 616 runs in 13 matches at an average of 47.38 and a strike rate of 161.68, including six half-centuries.
- Ashwin highlights India’s depth—pointing to high-intent openers and younger talent—making competition for spots both difficult and exciting.
- He also suggested Virat Kohli would likely still be in the T20I mix if he had not retired after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win.
Ashwin on Gill’s form and the selection dilemma
Speaking with a hint of humour about how ruthless selection can be, Ashwin said that if he were in charge, he would avoid the constant pressure that comes with decision-making—implying that the phone would not be something he’d want to handle during selection time. His broader message, however, was straightforward: Gill’s current form should not be overlooked.
Gill had lost his place in India’s T20I setup before the home series against New Zealand, a run that formed part of the build-up leading into the 2026 T20 World Cup. Despite that setback, Ashwin pointed to Gill’s impact in IPL 2026 as evidence that he remains a high-value option for the shortest format.
According to Ashwin, Gill responded in a big way through the tournament. The right-hander has scored 616 runs in 13 matches, striking at 161.68 while maintaining a batting average of 47.38. His output includes six fifties, and he has also played a leadership role in guiding Gujarat Titans into the playoffs.
India’s talent pool: “hurts” turned into performances
Ashwin went on to discuss what he sees as an exceptional level of talent across Indian cricket right now. He acknowledged that competition can naturally be painful for players, but emphasised that many are converting that disappointment into better performances on the field.
He specifically referenced players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya among the younger group, describing them as examples of the new generation bringing high intent—particularly from the top of the order. Ashwin also noted that conversations sometimes even overlook KL Rahul at times, even though the wider pool is pushing one another to bat aggressively and still keep producing runs.
In this context, Ashwin singled out the kind of batting that stands out in modern T20 cricket—especially when younger players deliver at extremely high strike rates. He argued that Sanju Samson’s performances in the T20 World Cup were too strong to ignore, and he praised Abhishek Sharma for continuing to play attacking cricket consistently, while also performing strongly for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Gill’s overall T20I record and Ashwin’s wider selection argument
Ashwin also provided context on Gill’s international experience. Gill’s last T20I appearance came in 2025 against South Africa at Dharamsala. In total, he has featured in 36 T20Is, scoring 869 runs at an average of 28.03, with a strike rate of 138.59. His record includes one century and three fifties.
On Gill’s future ceiling, Ashwin said the opener/batter has immense potential and believes he can improve even further. He argued that if anyone looks at T20 cricket around the world, Gill’s name would always be among the players associated with India’s top talent. In Ashwin’s view, India’s talent pool is so deep that the competition can feel both unfortunate—because deserving players miss out—and fortunate—because so many players are capable of stepping up. He summed it up by saying Indian cricket is operating at another level.
Virat Kohli and the impact of retirement on the T20I picture
In addition to Gill, Ashwin spoke about Virat Kohli’s continued performances. He suggested that Kohli would still have been part of India’s current T20I setup if he had not retired from the format after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.
Ashwin addressed questions about whether Kohli “deserves” a place, stressing that Kohli’s contributions to Indian cricket are significant. He added that, had Kohli not made that decision, the former captain would likely still be integrated into the present group.
He then linked this to the ongoing discussion around Yashasvi Jaiswal, noting that although Jaiswal’s IPL season may not have matched the level he showed the previous year, his name continues to come up when India considers options for T20 opening roles.
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