“It is almost like choosing K Srikkanth over Sunil Gavaskar in T20s” - Ex-Indian cricketer slams selection committee for dropping Shubman Gill

Former India batter WV Raman slammed the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for dropping Shubman Gill, the Indian T20I vice-captain, adding that it was like preferring Kris Srikkanth over Sunil Gavaskar for the T20 format.

Speaking exclusively to TOI, Raman asserted that the selection committee shouldn’t have appointed Gill as the vice-captain of the side when many other batters fit the ball so well in the shortest format of the game.

"Gill hasn't been dropped for any significant fault of his. Just that the players around him are more explosive than him, a quality that is essential in modern-day T20 cricket. In an imaginary scenario, it is almost like choosing K Srikkanth over Sunil Gavaskar for the T20 format, knowing full well who the better batter in the format actually could be. That's why I was wondering why it was necessary to make him the T20 vice-captain at that stage, when so many others fit the T20 bill so well," WV Raman told the Times of India.

It’s worth noting that Gill made a technique change before the start of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy by playing with a much straighter bat. However, Raman stated that Gill’s technical change didn’t affect his batting in T20Is.

“Rohit Sharma plays with a straight bat, but does that restrict his hitting? Sometimes a straight bat opens up more scoring options even in T20 cricket. It is more about who you are as a player and we have to admit that some of the others around him are naturally more explosive,” he said.

"If I were his coach, I would have told him that there is no place for emotion in a player's life. It is a decision that has been taken with the team composition in mind, and Gill should not think for a second that he has become a lesser player," he concluded.

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