India's Asia Cup winner advises BCCI and Gautam Gambhir to give break to Shubman Gill from T20Is ahead of 2026 World Cup

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif questioned Shubman Gill's selection in the T20I squad after the stylish batter failed to perform in the third T20I against South Africa. Notably, Gill, who returned to the T20 side after missing the ODI series against South Africa due to a neck injury, has struggled to make an impact, posting scores of 4, 0, and 28 not out in his latest outings.

Kaif for Shubman Gill

Kaif, who was a part of India's Asia Cup 2002 winning squad, believes that the BCCI should give a break to Gill and try out a different player as an opener

“If you want to keep things in control, don’t use the word drop (with Gill). Just say that you are giving him a break or want to try out a different player. But they have to go with a new player in these next two matches," said Kaif on his YouTube channel.

"Whoever that player is, he deserves those matches; he has the right. He must be thinking Gill is playing for a year, and I have been dropped after 2-3 poor innings. That player is Sanju Samson,” he added.

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Kaif urged to take a call on Gill's selection

After Shubman Gill was included in the squad as vice-captain, Sanju Samson, who had been opening the innings since Rohit Sharma’s T20I retirement and had scored three centuries, found himself on the bench.

“There may be one or two players, like X-factor players, who deserve special treatment in terms of opportunities, but look at Shubman Gill now, how many innings has he got already?” said Kaif.

"It is not as though we have started discussing this now; we have been talking about it for quite some time. You have to take a call now, the time has come,” he added.

Axar Patel ruled out of three T20Is against South Africa

India's star all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is against South Africa, and the BCCI announced Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement.

India’s updated squad for last two T20Is

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed.