Harbhajan Singh Backs Shubman Gill After T20 World Cup Snub, Says ‘He Will Make a Great Comeback’

Shubman Gill’s unexpected omission from India’s T20 World Cup squad has triggered intense debate among fans and former cricketers, especially given his recent role as vice-captain in the T20I series against South Africa. The tournament is set to begin in February next year, but a last-minute review of team combinations saw Gill miss out on a place in the final 15-member squad.

The team management reportedly opted for a wicketkeeper-opener combination to better balance the playing XI. As a result, Sanju Samson returned to his original role at the top of the order, Ishan Kishan was included as the backup opener, and Abhishek Sharma retained his spot as an automatic choice — leaving Gill on the sidelines.

Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh, however, has come out strongly in support of the young batter, insisting that the omission should not be viewed as a reflection of Gill’s talent or standing in Indian cricket.

Speaking to reporters at the launch event of the fourth season of the Legends 90 League, Harbhajan highlighted the intense competition for places in India’s T20 setup and expressed confidence that Gill would bounce back.

“It’s not a signal to Gill. He was not taking his place for granted. The competition is so much and they’ve got too many players who can fill that slot and do well for the team. This is not the end of the road for Gill; he’s a great, great player with beautiful technique, and he will make a brilliant comeback,” Harbhajan said.

He also underlined Gill’s continued importance to Indian cricket across formats, adding, “Not to forget, he’s still the Test captain for India.”

Gill had rejoined India’s T20I setup earlier this year during the Asia Cup and was promptly reinstated as vice-captain. However, he struggled to lock down his position at the top of the order, scoring 291 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 137.26, without registering a half-century.

Elaborating further, Harbhajan said team selection was driven by finding the right combinations for the demands of the T20 format rather than individual shortcomings.

“They were looking at which combination fits where for this format. Given those conditions and combinations, the team has been selected that way. Gill is a class player, there is no doubt about it, and he’ll make a great comeback,” he added.

Despite the setback, the backing from a former senior India player reinforces the belief that Gill’s absence from the T20 World Cup squad is temporary — and that the highly rated batter remains firmly in India’s long-term plans.