'Pandya is most biased captain' - Fans ruthlessly bash Hardik Pandya as he ignores Prithvi Shaw for 1st T20I against New Zealand

Ahead of the first T20I against New Zealand, India's stand-in T20I skipper Hardik Pandya confirmed that Prithvi Shaw will miss out. The former has confirmed in a media interaction that Shubhman Gill and Ishan Kishan will open the innings. Meanwhile, Shaw is making his comeback to the team after July 2021. Since then, he was struggling in domestic cricket to earn back his place in the national side.

Thanks to his performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the 2018 U19 World Cup-winning captain was selected for the T20Is against the Blackcaps. Meanwhile, ahead of the first game, Pandya said that Gill has done well (referring to the latters' batting form in ODIs). Hardik added that it was about giving the player in the form a go in the series.

"Nahi sir. Shubman ne bohot achha kiya hai so usko pehle mauka milega. Actually, mauke ki baat hi nahi hai. (No sir. Shubman has done really well so he will get the opportunity first. In fact, with him it doesn't even come down to opportunities) Shubman will start because the way he is batting, he will obviously be in the team," Hardik said on the eve of the series opener.

After this, the fans aren't happy with the team selection. They feel that Shaw could have been preferred over Gill due to the former's strike rate in the shortest format of the game.

This is how Twitter reacted

This pandya is most biased captain till now, I mean on what basis gill is playing ahead of shaw in t20is??
He thinks indian fans are still living in that era where team was mixing two formats

— R (@Thunder3108) January 26, 2023

Last two IPL stats: pic.twitter.com/DSMrai0PVp

— Shawstopper (@shawstopper_100) January 26, 2023

Team should be

Shaw
Ishan
Gill
Sky
Tripathi
Pandya
Hooda
Kuldeep
Umran
Arshdeep
Mavi

— Aniket Pandit (@Aniketpandey33) January 26, 2023

Shubhman Gill is outstanding batsman in tests and ODIs, but frankly speaking.. he has to wait for a place in T20 probables until he improves his strike rate.. Prithvi Shaw is the right guy for us to lead as an opener.. please groom him for the next T20 World Cup ❤️

— Karthik Reddy (@urstrulykarthy) January 26, 2023

GT quota ☠️ ,mixing formats like SKY in ODIs and Gill in T20Is

— P R A T I K. (@pratiknayak774) January 26, 2023

People trolling SKY not suitable for ODI's
But praising Gill as Prince of cricket, future king kohli🤡.
If Sky doesn't deserve ODI place due to t20 performance then Gill doesn't deserve a place in t20 due to ODI performance

— Sky63Goat (@SandeshHiremat9) January 26, 2023

Ruthuraj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw as openers make a good opening pair in T20Is..
IshanKishan is a passing cloud.. do not provide him chances like RishabhPant .. you are wasting other deserving batsmen to wait 🥸

— Karthik Reddy (@urstrulykarthy) January 26, 2023

Kishan to me is better suited to come down the order or be a non striker as a opener. Shaw to me is an opener that after Sehwag that India has been longing for he’s explosive and very dangerous. As for Gill being him in at number 3.

— Pluto (@popk8910) January 26, 2023

1 like 1 Slap to pandu

— Retired 🥀 (@Sense_Detected) January 26, 2023

Probably last some chances for shubman gill. He wasted opportunities in SL t20. Huge imp series for him. If he doesn't do well, don't see him t20 set up unless n until he has a excellent ipl with 130-140 sr.

— PK (@LM10Supremacy) January 26, 2023

New Zealand is a strong T20I team: Hardik Pandya

The all-rounder also spoke about the opposition side ahead of the first T2oI. He said that the team is a good one-day unite that didn't reflect during the ODI series.

"New Zealand is a strong T20I team. They are a fine one-day unit as well even though the recent series outcome does not reflect that. They always challenge you as a team, which was the case in the 1st ODI in Hyderabad. If they could have pulled out that chase, they would have entered the second game full of confidence. But at the same point of time, we will try our best and know that we will have to play our best to beat them. They will be get rolled over. It's a fresh start," added Hardik.