Star India cricketer reflects on Subman Gill’s T20I future, says, ‘Have to take…’

Star India batter Mohammad Kaif called on head coach Gautam Gambhir to rest Shubman Gill from the next two T20I match against South Africa.

New Delhi: Star India batter Mohammad Kaif did not hold back while criticising Shubman Gill, stating that the opener should be rested from T20Is. The 26-year-old, who recently made a comeback after recovering from a neck injury during the South Africa series, has struggled to make an impact in the first three matches, as he scored just 4, 0 and 28. In the third T20I at Dharamsala, Gill found it hard to accelerate after the powerplay and eventually ended with a run-a-ball 28.

Gill was appointed as the vice-captain during the Asia Cup, a move that ultimately pushed Sanju Samson out of the playing XI despite his three centuries last year. Since making his comeback, Gill has not registered a single T20I fifty, prompting growing calls for the team management to move on from the experiment.

Mohammad Kaif believes should be rested in the next two T20Is

Kaif believes Gill should be rested for the next two T20Is, arguing that Samson deserves an opportunity with the World Cup approaching. While the Kerala batter featured in the middle order during the Asia Cup, he was later dropped from the playing XI in the Australia series as the management chose to pick Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper and finisher.

“If you want to keep things in control, don’t use the word drop (with Gill). Just say that you are giving him a break or want to try out a different player. But they have to go with a new player in these next two matches,” said Kaif on his YouTube channel.

“Whoever that player is, he deserves those matches; he has the right. He must be thinking Gill is playing for a year, and I have been dropped after 2-3 poor innings. That player is Sanju Samson,” he added.

India is scheduled to play seven T20Is ahead of 2026 T20I World Cup

In the opening T20I clash against South Africa, Gill managed to score only four runs before being dismissed off the second ball he faced, while in the next match he was out for a duck on the very first delivery.

During the third T20I, the right-hander began positively, but his scoring rate dropped sharply after Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal, and he was eventually removed by Marco Jansen.

“There may be one or two players, like X-factor players, who deserve special treatment in terms of opportunities, but look at Shubman Gill now, how many innings has he got already?” said Kaif.

“It is not as though we have started discussing this now; we have been talking about it for quite some time. You have to take a call now, the time has come,” he added.

India is scheduled to play only seven T20Is ahead of the 2026 T20I World Cup in February and March. The hosts are set to play two matches against the Proteas, followed by a five-match series against New Zealand. The squad for the New Zealand series and the World Cup is likely to be named on the same day.