Overview
- India confirmed a 15-man group with Suryakumar Yadav as captain, Axar Patel as vice-captain, and both Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan included.
- Since his September comeback, Gill scored 291 runs in 15 T20I innings at 24.25 with a strike rate of 137.26 and no half-centuries.
- Mohammad Kaif blasted the Ajit Agarkar-led panel for “zero planning,” arguing the late U-turn wasted time and blunted Axar’s leadership preparation.
- Former coach WV Raman said the call reflects a push for more explosive T20 options rather than any fault of Gill, drawing a Srikkanth-over-Gavaskar analogy for format fit.
- Robin Uthappa contended India could not carry two out-of-form players, citing Suryakumar Yadav’s 2025 T20I returns (218 runs in 19 innings at 13.62), with reports indicating Samson is set to reunite with Abhishek Sharma to open during the New Zealand tune-ups starting January 21.