New Delhi: With several exciting T20 talents emerging, team selection has become a major headache for the selectors. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes. Shabman Gulwho has been in poor form in IPL 2026, deserves a place in India’s T20I setup. However, with youngsters like Vaibhu Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya, along with names like Yashwi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma And with veteran Sanju Samson already in contention, the competition has become fierce.“I say it’s hard, man. Agarman.” Ajit Agarkar If not, he would have left the phone and gone to the Maldives at the time of the election. Won’t pick up the phone hello,” he said.Shubman lost his place in India’s T20I setup ahead of the home series against the New Zealand national cricket team, which preceded the 2026 T20 World Cup.However, India’s Test and ODI captain responded in style with a sensational IPL 2026 campaign. Gill has scored 616 runs in 13 matches at an average of 47.38 and a strike rate of 161.68, including six fifties. He has also led Gujarat Titans in the playoffs.“Good player, but you tell me – a young kid batting at a strike rate of 220, he is special, Shadi even more special. Sanju Samson played such a solid innings in the T20 World Cup, he is not shy before you. Playing cricket, performing very well for SRH, but continuous attack. [He is obviously a very good player. But you tell me — when a young kid is batting at a strike rate of 220, that is something special, maybe even more special. Sanju Samson played some outstanding knocks in the T20 World Cup; you simply cannot ignore him. Abhishek Sharma is also playing consistently attacking cricket and performing brilliantly for Sunrisers Hyderabad]Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.“There is incredible talent in India at the moment. Hurts happen naturally, but I am happy that our players are turning the hurt into performances.” Absolutely. There are players like Vaibhu Suryavanshi, youngsters like Priyansh, openers with high intentions. And see, we even forget KL Rahul’s name sometimes. All are pushing an era — high-intent cricket is to be played and runs are bananas. This is an amazing phase for Indian cricket. Names are of no use to anyone. [India has unbelievable talent at the moment. Naturally, players feel hurt at times, but what makes me happy is that they are converting that hurt into performances. There are players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, youngsters like Priyansh, and several high-intent openers. And sometimes we even forget to mention KL Rahul. Everyone is pushing each other — to play high-intent cricket and still keep scoring runs. This is an amazing phase for Indian cricket. No one is inferior to anyone here]” he added.Shubman, who played his last T20I in 2025 against the South African national cricket team in Dharamsala, has played 36 T20Is and has scored 869 runs at an average of 28.03 and a strike rate of 138.59, including one century and three fifties.
Should Virat Kohli be called back into the T20I setup despite his retirement?
“Shubman Gill has the potential to win, he can do even better. You look at any T20 national team in the world, Shubman Gill’s name will be there. The talent pool of Indian cricket is so strong that the competition is unfortunately at another level of Indian cricket.” [Shubman Gill has immense potential, and he can become even better. You can pick any T20 national team in the world and Shubman Gill’s name will feature there. India’s talent pool is so strong that the competition feels unfortunate as well as fortunate at the same time. Indian cricket is operating at another level]he said.Ashwin also said that the way Virat Kohli is still performing, he would have remained a part of the T20I setup had he not retired from the format after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup.“People say Virat Kohli doesn’t deserve it? What’s so much for Indian cricket? If he hadn’t retired, he’d still be in the current set-up. Yashwi Jaiswal’s IPL marriage hasn’t been the same as it was last year, the debate hasn’t started”. comes [People ask whether Virat Kohli deserves a place or not. Look at what he has done for Indian cricket. Had he not retired, he would still have been part of the current setup. Yashasvi Jaiswal may not have had the same IPL season as last year, but his name still comes up whenever there is a discussion about T20 opening options]Ashwin said.
