Azharuddin questions Gill’s absence across formats, Sarfaraz and Nabi’s non-selection

Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has criticized the selectors for dropping Shubman Gill from T20Is and ignoring domestic pacing sensation Auqib Nabi for Tests, while backing Shreyas Iyer’s appointment as the new T20I skipper

New Delhi: Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has questioned the omission of Shubman Gill from the T20I setup, alongside the non-selection of Sarfaraz Khan and Auqib Nabi in the Test squad.

Azharuddin said Gill, who has been leading India in Tests and ODIs, has handled the captaincy role “very well” and should not have been dropped from any format. Gill, who previously served as India’s vice-captain in T20Is, was dropped from the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

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“Gill is handling the captaincy job very well. His individual performance has also improved a lot. He is one of the finest players; I don’t know why they don’t select him for T20s,” Azharuddin told PTI in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. “He is an all-format player and should never have been dropped from any format,” he added.

Azharuddin also highlighted that both Sarfaraz and Nabi have not been rewarded for their stellar performances in domestic cricket.

“Auqib Nabi is a great red-ball bowler and a very good exponent of swing bowling. I feel very sad for him. After taking wickets consistently over the last two years—44 wickets in 2024-25 and 60 in 2025-26 in the Ranji Trophy—he still does not find a place in the Test team. It is very disappointing,” Azharuddin said.

“These boys have consistently done well in domestic cricket. Everyone says that we have to play domestic cricket. But what is the use of doing so if their performances are not being recognized? Are they going to get a chance only when they are past their prime?” he asked.

He further noted, “Nabi may not be a specialist T20 bowler, so the selectors must understand and recognize that his skillset is tailored for Test cricket.”

The former captain emphasized that India needs to prioritize the longest format.

“They need to play a lot of matches because there is no cricket without Test cricket. It is a true test of skills given how the conditions and pitches keep changing. I think the board is doing its best, but we have to promote more multi-day games,” he said.

Azharuddin backed Shreyas Iyer to excel in his role as India’s T20I captain. “He has performed well and has deservingly got this opportunity. He has a very good cricketing brain, and I am sure that with time, he will become a very good captain,” he said.

However, Azharuddin agreed with the selectors’ bold call to remove Suryakumar Yadav from the T20I captaincy and drop him from the squad, despite Yadav recently leading India to a record-extending third T20 World Cup title.

“You have to perform consistently because performances count a lot. A lot of young players are coming up nowadays, and you can’t rely on past laurels. You have to keep performing every time,” he asserted.

When asked about the futures of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the legendary batsman stated that retirement should remain an individual choice.

“It’s a very personal decision. Players need to decide when the time is right, based on when they feel they have had enough. Both are incredibly talented and have given so much to the country. A player knows exactly what is happening with their body, mental strength, and how their performance is affected. Both these players have rendered yeoman service to the nation and their choices should be respected,” Azharuddin concluded.