Harbhajan Singh hails Gambhir’s T20 WC move: Ishan Kishan ahead of Shubman Gill proved right

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has applauded head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Indian selectors for picking Ishan Kishan over Shubman Gill in the T20 World Cup squad.

Harbhajan said that while the decision seemed controversial initially, it turned out to be the right call as Kishan delivered consistently throughout the tournament. Kishan ended up as India’s second-highest run-scorer, forming a strong opening combination with Sanju Samson. His aggressive starts in the powerplay gave India the momentum in several matches, helping the team secure crucial wins on their path to the title.

On his YouTube channel, Harbhajan explained that Kishan’s domestic performances had already indicated he deserved another opportunity in T20 cricket:

“Bringing Ishan Kishan in was a smart move by Gautam Gambhir. At first, it felt like Shubman Gill was unfairly left out, but Kishan was in top form in domestic cricket, and his inclusion was necessary,” Harbhajan said.

He further highlighted Kishan’s impact in the tournament:

“Ishan picked up right where Abhishek Sharma left off. He did not disappoint even once, batting aggressively while keeping the team’s priorities first. Performing like this after a comeback is a huge achievement.”

How Kishan Replaced Gill

The selection change came after a dip in Gill’s T20 form. Gill had returned to India’s T20I side during the September 2025 Asia Cup and was named vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav. However, inconsistent performances led to his exclusion from the 15-member T20 World Cup squad announced on December 20, 2025.

Meanwhile, Kishan was in red-hot form for Jharkhand, guiding them to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and scoring a century against New Zealand in a T20I series final just before the World Cup.

Kishan’s T20 World Cup Performance

Kishan carried his form into the World Cup, consistently providing fast, attacking starts at the top of the order. In the final against New Zealand, he scored 54 off 25 balls as India posted 255, giving the opposition a huge target. He also contributed in the field, taking two sharp catches to dismiss Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert.