The US and the West Indies are going to co-host a major event – the ICC’s Shubman shortest-form tournament between 2 and 29 June.
One of the squad decisions made by BCCI’s selectors has been having Shubman Gill among four travelling reserves, something Eoin Morgan believes is not right.
Speaking on a Sky Sports podcast in company with his fellow ex-England capatains Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain, Morgan said he would have had Gill as part of his team instead of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“That’s probably one decision I’d have had differently if I were selecting it, Shubman Gill (in the 15) over Yashasvi Jaiswal,” stated Morgan.
Jaiswal has been one of several very gifted Indian cricketers who burst into Test cricket soon after making their international debut in that format. He played for India against West Indies last summer during his first Test match for the country.
In his first ever 9 test matches for India, Jaiswal managed to score 1028 runs from only 16 innings at an average rate of 68.53 with no less than three centuries and four fifties amongst them. In his T20I career so far, he has scored 502 runs in just sixteen knocks at an average above thirty-three points per innings as well as a strike rate greater than one hundred sixty-one including one century plus four half-centuries.
It is quite a big shout, but I’ve played alongside Shubman Gill (for Kolkata Knight Riders). I know how he thinks; I know how he works; and for me he is a future leader with that side,” responded Morgan.
Since making his ODI debut for India during their New Zealand tour in early 2019, Gill has become widely talked about on the international stage. This followed by playing all formats for India since then where he has been part of 14 T20Is, 25 Test matches and 44 ODIs with at least one hundred in each format.
In Tests, he has scored 1492 runs (4 centuries, 6 fifties), in ODIs – 2271 runs (6 centuries, 13 fifites) and in T20Is – 335 runs (1 century, 1 fifty).
“In big moments in World Cups, the more leaders the better. Even if he (Gill) is sitting on the sidelines, you still need inspiration from here and everywhere; you need that sense of positivity,” added Morgan.
The video clip from the podcast floating on social media ends with Atherton asking Morgan a question in jest.
“Have you been approached to coach India?
Morgan smiled before responding: “No I haven’t. Very happy.”
