Harbhajan wants Shubman Gill in Asia Cup T20Is
Shubman Gill reputation as a world-class batter has never been in doubt across formats. He already dominated ODIs, silenced critics in Test cricket, and is now back in the spotlight for T20Is ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
Gill missed India’s last three T20I series against Bangladesh, South Africa, and England. The selectors prioritized Test matches and ODIs before the Champions Trophy. Yet Gill remained in the T20 setup, serving as a travelling reserve in the T20 World Cup and later leading India in Zimbabwe before becoming vice-captain against Sri Lanka.
Bench strength creates tough choices
India’s depth in batting has created healthy competition. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson impressed at the top order with fluent centuries. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma also stood out, with Tilak breaking the record for most T20I runs scored between dismissals, tallying 318 without getting out.
Harbhajan Singh: “You cannot undermine Gill”
Despite the strong show from others, Harbhajan Singh feels Gill cannot be sidelined.
“Yes, we do have players like Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma, but you cannot undermine or underestimate Shubman Gill. He is a very talented batter who can adapt to any format. He is an all-format player. In my opinion, he can play T20s and even dominate the format. We as fans are used to seeing fours and sixes every ball, but you also need batters who can play long innings and rescue the team when required,” Harbhajan singh told TimesofIndia.com.
Strong record in T20 cricket
Gill’s numbers underline his value. In 21 T20Is, he has scored 578 runs at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate of 139.27, including a century and three fifties. His IPL 2025 was even more impressive, with 650 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.87. He also remains among the rare Indian batters with centuries in all three international formats.
“Foundation makes him a special batter”
Harbhajan emphasized that Gill’s technique allows him to adapt and thrive in T20 cricket.
“In the T20 format, it’s important to understand that it’s not just about big hitting. If Shubman decides to attack, he can match anyone because he is a very solid player with strong basics. A batter with such a strong foundation can score runs in any format. If you look at the IPL, Shubman has scored runs every season. He has worn the Orange Cap — and that doesn’t happen by chance. And it’s not like he bats only at a strike rate of 120 or 130; he can also bat at a strike rate of 160,” Harbhajan added.
With Harbhajan’s strong words of support and his proven record, Gill remains a front-runner for the Asia Cup T20Is.
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