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Former cricketer Virender Sehwag backed the selection committee's decision to appoint young batter Shubman Gill as India skipper for the Zimbabwe series. The Men in Blue will play five T20Is against Zimbabwe in Harare, starting on July 6.
The selectors have picked a young squad for the series and chosen only two - Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson - from the squad that is currently in the West Indies for the T20 World Cup. They have also appointed a new skipper in Gill as they look forward to the future.
Sehwag backed the decision, saying that Shubman Gill is the right candidate to lead India when Rohit Sharma steps aside.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Virender Sehwag said:
"Shubman Gill is for the long haul. He's a player who plays all three formats. He's had a great last year. He was unlucky to miss out on the 2024 T20 World Cup. According to me, it is the right decision to make him the captain. When Rohit Sharma leaves tomorrow, Shubman Gill will be his right replacement for captaincy."
Shubman Gill was recently seen leading the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2024 after Hardik Pandya shifted base to join his former side Mumbai Indians. The Titans finished eighth in the standings with five wins and seven defeats. But Gill impressed with his tactical acumen throughout the campaign.
"What's wrong with that?" - Virender Sehwag on youngsters rewarded for IPL performances
The squad for the Zimbabwe series is a reflection of players rewarded for their performances in IPL 2024. The likes of Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma, among others, delivered standout performances for their respective franchises.
When asked if the players are being rewarded for their IPL performances, Virender Sehwag didn't see anything wrong with it. He further asserted that this series will serve as a testing ground for players who have performed well in the IPL to see if they are suited for the highest level or not.
"What's wrong with that? When you've given such good performances in the IPL and domestic cricket, and selection in international cricket happens only after domestic cricket. So, this tour is to see if the players who have performed can do the same at the international level or not," Sehwag concluded.
Who among the current squad members didn't deserve a place in the Indian side? Let us know in the comments.
