“‘Ghar pe bolo nazar utar de’: Sunil Gavaskar’s candid advice to Shubman Gill after T20 World Cup snobbery. cricket news

India’s T20I squad for the 2026 World Cup has thrown up a major talking point, with Shubman Gill ruled out and Axar Patel named vice-captain instead. The decision surprised many, including Sunil Gavaskar, who admitted on air that he didn’t see Gill’s omission coming. Reacting to the team’s announcement, the former Indian captain said the call truly shocked him. “It’s not a surprise at all, it’s a surprise,” Gavaskar remarked, clarifying that Gill’s absence was unexpected.

Gavaskar was quick to highlight Gill’s quality, while also acknowledging his recent struggles. He described Gill as a classy batter who has had a great run with the bat in the recent past. While admitting that Gill struggled in the series against South Africa, Gavaskar pointed out that form may fluctuate, but class remains constant. He also highlighted the challenges of returning to T20 cricket after an absence from the game. According to Gavaskar, a lack of pace can be brutally exposed in the shortest format, where batters are expected to attack from the first ball. After a long layoff, Gill seemed to lack timing, which made the task even more difficult. Gavaskar explained that Gill’s natural game is more suited to longer formats, with an emphasis on timing and ground game. When pace is lacking, adapting to the range of shots required in T20 cricket is not easy. However, he made it clear that this does not mean Gill is not suited to the format, pointing to Gill’s strong performances in the IPL as proof of his T20 credentials. Adding a personal touch, Gavaskar revealed that he had just traveled from Ahmedabad on the same flight as Gill and the Indian captain. Suryakumar Yadav. During their brief interaction, Gavaskar said he offered Gill some heartfelt advice, saying he told Gill to ask an elder in the house to ward off the evil eye. “Ghar pe kisiko bolo nazar utar de. You know, because we believe in it. We believe in ki kabhi kabhi nazar lag jaati hain,” Gavaskar said, adding that his words came purely from a place of care and goodwill for the young batter. Despite this omission, Gavaskar’s words reflected a continued faith in Gill’s abilities and a belief that the right-handed batter would find his way back once his momentum and fortunes returned.