Harbhajan Singh Calls Ishan Kishan Selection Over Shubman Gill a Smart T20 World Cup Move by Gambhir
Harbhajan Singh Hails Ishan Kishan Selection Over Shubman Gill in T20 World Cup
India, Mar 11 : Former India off spinner Harbhajan Singh praised head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Indian selectors for backing Ishan Kishan over Shubman Gill in the T20 World Cup squad, calling it a “great call” that ultimately paid off.
Kishan Shines at the Top of the Order
Kishan became India’s second highest run scorer in the tournament, providing explosive starts alongside Sanju Samson. His aggressive batting during the powerplay played a key role in India’s march to the title.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan said, “Bringing Ishan Kishan in was a good move from Gautam Gambhir, even though at the time we felt it was unfair to Shubman Gill. Kishan was batting the best in the format domestically, so his comeback was necessary.”
Maintaining an Aggressive, Team First Approach
Harbhajan highlighted Kishan’s consistency and team-first mindset: “He did not disappoint once in this World Cup. Every match he batted destructively and put the team first. To perform like this after making a comeback is a massive achievement.”
How Kishan Replaced Gill
Shubman Gill’s T20 form had been inconsistent in the months leading up to the World Cup. Despite being vice-captain during the Asia Cup 2025, Gill struggled for consistency and was eventually dropped from the 15-member squad announced on December 20, 2025.
Meanwhile, Kishan was in exceptional form in domestic cricket, helping Jharkhand win their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and scoring a century against New Zealand in the T20I series finale.
Kishan’s Impact in the Tournament
Kishan carried his momentum into the World Cup, delivering strong starts at the top of the order. In the final against New Zealand, he smashed 54 off 25 balls, helping India post 255. He also contributed in the field, taking two sharp catches to dismiss Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert.
By the end of the tournament, Kishan had scored over 300 runs, joining Sanju Samson and Virat Kohli as the only Indian batters to achieve this milestone in a single T20 World Cup edition.
