Former India opener and ex-chief selector Kris Srikkanth has openly criticised Shubman Gill’s appointment as vice-captain of the Indian T20I side, claiming it has disrupted the flexibility and balance of team selection. According to Srikkanth, the management’s decision to hand Gill the deputy leadership role has created a situation where his spot in the XI is secure despite a string of poor performances — a luxury other talented players don’t enjoy.
Gill, who also leads India in ODIs and Tests, has struggled to make a similar impact in T20Is. Since his comeback to the shortest format, his numbers have been far from convincing, averaging just 24.14 across nine matches since the Asia Cup and the Australia tour in early 2025. Despite being entrusted with both the vice-captaincy and an opening role, Gill has yet to justify the selectors’ faith. Critics argue that this faith has come at the cost of India’s flexibility in rotating players and rewarding in-form talents.
Kris Srikkanth didn’t mince words while expressing his concerns on his YouTube channel, stating, “They won’t drop Shubman Gill for the next three games because he’s the vice-captain. He’s already being seen as the future T20I captain, so they’re forced to play him and build the rest of the team around him. But if he’s struggling, on what basis was he appointed the vice-captain?”
ALSO READ: Irfan Pathan Criticizes Abhishek Sharma For Poor Game Awareness Despite Brilliant Knock
The former selector emphasised that several deserving players, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma, have been sidelined or pushed down the order to accommodate Gill. Srikkanth claimed this lack of experimentation could hurt India’s preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup, although he joked that the team might “get away with it” since the tournament will be held on home soil.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting in the wings. His omission makes no sense, especially when the balance of the team has gone haywire. Players like Sanju and Tilak don’t have fixed positions, and even Arshdeep Singh is missing from the XI. The only saving grace is that the T20 World Cup is in India, so they’ll escape,” he added.
ALSO READ: Chris Woakes Reveals Ben Stokes Ignored Injury At Old Trafford Despite Near Breakdown
Jaiswal’s exclusion, despite averaging 36 with a strike rate of 164.31, has been widely criticized. Srikkanth argued that players like Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma deserve consistent chances, just as Gill has received. “If Jaiswal gets the same opportunities, he’ll dominate at the top. He’s proven himself in IPL and international cricket. It’s unfair he’s not playing,” Srikkanth stated.
Srikkanth also questioned the selection logic behind leaving out Arshdeep Singh, India’s most consistent T20 bowler, while preferring Harshit Rana for his lower-order batting. “Arshdeep won’t play the entire series unless they drop Harshit Rana. The balance is confusing — they’re overvaluing batting depth at the expense of proven bowlers,” he concluded.
