“The World Cup is around the corner and they took a U-turn” - Irfan Pathan opens up on Shubman Gill’s axing

Former Indian all-rounder and commentator Irfan Pathan has opened up on India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan has shared his comments on Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma’s omission.

Moreover, he also talked about Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh’s comeback to the squad, while Sanju Samson is expected to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Also, he stressed that selectors took a big U-turn on Shubman Gill at the last moment. 

"Rinku Singh has been given an opportunity instead of Jitesh Sharma. Rinku Singh brings in the ability of a left-hander. I had said before that if both Jitesh and Sanju Samson, India have two wicketkeepers on the field. But when this happens, fielding becomes slightly thin and it matters in a big stage like the World Cup. Hence, selectors will have thought of that. Rinku is a gun fielder," Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel. 

“If Jitesh is not there, Yashasvi Jaiswal was in the race since Shubman Gill was out. Jaiswal was part of the previous T20 World Cup squad too. If we talk of keepers, Rishabh Pant can also say he has batted in the top of the order and was part of that squad too. But Ishan Kishan has swooped in to take the spot,” he added.

"Surely, Ishan Kishan has performed well but both Pant and Jaiswal will feel like they have missed out. But Jaiswal doesn’t keep and you need a keeper in the top order since Jitesh is out of the squad. Pant is not in the scheme of things currently,” he noted. 

It’s important to note that, Gill could make only 291 runs from his last 15 T20I innings at an average of 24.24 and a strike rate of 137.26 without scoring a fifty. Pathan felt that the selection committee took a major U-turn at the last minute with the World Cup around the corner. 

“Selectors previously thought of bringing in Shubman Gill. They planned that Abhishek Sharma is an explosive hitter and Gill will give stability. That was the thought process behind bringing in Gill and they made him the vice-captain. The World Cup is around the corner and they took a U-turn because they felt this was not going right. On one hand, we are praising that the domestic performer has been awarded but you have taken a U-turn here,” he concluded.

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