Former India cricketer turned commentator Mohammad Kaif commented on star India batter Ishan Kishan amid the ODI series against Afghanistan. Team India have already sealed the three-match series 2-0. Mohammad Kaif added that head coach Gautam Gambhir likes Ishan Kishan and, by his nature, he will be adamant about a player he likes, as seen in the past too. Kaif also stated that once Kishan becomes regular on the side, he would get a long rope. He also gave examples of Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana, defending Gambhir for his quality of backing players if he sees potential in them as well.

“If Gambhir likes someone, Gambhir will be adamant about it then. He likes Ishan Kishan. Whenever he plays, he will get a long backing. Look at how much he has backed Sundar. Sundar even played a Test match ahead of Ashwin. He has backed Harshit as well. People can tell whatever they want. But he has this quality. If he recognises a player, he will stand for them. Whether the decision goes right or wrong is a different debate. But he has a strong opinion and will convince the captain to have those players,” he said on his YouTube channel.

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“Look at Harshit, at the start he could not bat but he was always in the team as an all-rounder. He scored a fifty in his last ODI right? So the decision proved to be right there. If the players do not score at the start, we say look who Gambhir is selecting and this and that and he has to face the criticism. But with time, the same players do well, which has happened in Harshit’s case as well. He has the ability to become an all-rounder and he has shown glimpses,” he shared again.

Mohammad Kaif also shared his belief that Team India captain Shubman Gill could become an all-format player. Gill is currently leading the Test and ODI sides as well. He was dropped from the T20I side before the 2026 World Cup due to his poor form. However, Mohammad Kaif said that Gill has put that behind him and will surely make a comeback in the shorter format as well. Moreover, he made a bold call, claiming that Gill would become a giant one day and is walking a similar path to legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

“Gill will become an all-format player. It’s okay that he got dropped. No problem. He focused very well in the IPL. Many people do not do well under that pressure. But when he was dropped, he had it in his mind in the IPL. It is a big quality that he looked forward and not behind, great players do that. He has learnt to do well as a captain with the bowlers, he is scoring runs as well. I am sure 100% that he has playing for India in T20Is in his mind. Ishan Kishan also made a comeback right? Gill will also become an all-format player and a giant of the game. He is on the path of Sachin and Virat,” Mohammad Kaif concluded.