Ishan Kishan's Current Form Proves That Domestic Performances Must Be The Selection Critaria, Not Just The IPL - Sunil Gavaskar

Defending champions and co-hosts India announced their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026, set to begin on February 7. Speaking on ‘Follow The Blues’, JioStar experts Sunil Gavaskar, Harbhajan Singh and Saba Karim praised the bold, form-based calls, backed Gill to bounce back, and welcomed Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh as key inclusions for India’s push for a record third title.

Speaking on 'Follow The Blues', JioStar expert Sunil Gavaskar expressed surprise at Shubman Gill's omission: "It is a surprise. He is a classic, quality batter who had a fabulous season post the 2024 T20 World Cup. Yes, he struggled in a few matches against South Africa. But class is permanent, and form is temporary. He was also coming back after a long break and was out of rhythm. When you are not in rhythm in T20 cricket, where you have to attack from the start, it is hard. His natural game is more for Test cricket, playing along the ground. The shots needed in T20 do not come as easily to him. But he is a very good player. We have seen that in the IPL, so T20 is not new to him. Maybe just that lack of form and touch went against him."

On the selection of Ishan Kishan and on Jitesh Sharma's omission: "When you see someone performing, you pick him. Ishan Kishan has already been in the side and shown he can do it. That is a big plus. His current form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy proves that domestic cricket performance must be the selection criteria, not just the IPL. I am very happy for him. He was out of the team for a couple of years but made a fantastic comeback by leading his state team Jharkhand to a title winning season. I feel for Jitesh Sharma though. He did nothing wrong. He was a very good wicketkeeper in his chances, and after MS Dhoni, he was perhaps the best at helping the captain with DRS calls from behind the stumps. It is tough on him, but he is young. He just needs to go back to domestic cricket and keep performing."

Speaking on ‘Follow The Blues’, JioStar expert Harbhajan Singh praised India's T20 World Cup squad selection: "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. We spoke about him being in contention, and he got a spot. He is in good form. They did not take Jitesh Sharma because they already have enough batters for number seven or eight. 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."

On why Shubman Gill's omission was a matter of team balance, not a reflection of his ability: "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. Shubman is the future, and you want to keep your future close, even if you didn't pick him today. They should tell him clearly it was about team combination, like having a left-right mix or extra power at the top, not about his form. This is a small setback, but he will learn from it. He is a mature captain and player. 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."

Speaking on ‘Follow The Blues’, JioStar expert Saba Karim explained why India's last-minute squad changes for the T20 World Cup was a brave and necessary move: "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. That is why they explored other combinations. 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."