Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has launched a scathing attack on the Indian team management and selectors, calling their prolonged backing of Shubman Gill in T20 Internationals a “waste of time” and accusing them of zero planning.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif questioned why Gill was persisted with in the shortest format despite better options being available. He felt players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Jitesh Sharma should have been given a longer run instead.
“They knew there were better players for T20 cricket. Backing Gill was a mistake. Indian cricket has gone backwards. For two or three months, the management could have invested in Jaiswal, Samson, or Jitesh,” Kaif said.
Kaif added that Gill was never fully ready for the T20I format, pointing out that he failed to deliver consistently despite being given ample opportunities. According to him, the decision to drop Gill eventually was correct, though it came far too late.
“There was no planning at all. You backed a player who wasn’t ready. He didn’t score in 17–18 innings — how many chances do you give? It’s been a waste of time, both for Indian cricket and for the players who deserved those chances,” he added.
Gill was recently left out of India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, while Axar Patel was named vice-captain for the tournament. Despite his omission in T20Is, Gill continues to serve as India’s full-time captain in Tests and ODIs.
The 25-year-old struggled to make an impact in the format, finishing with a T20I average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26 in 2025. Whether Gill can force his way back into the T20I setup after the World Cup remains to be seen.
