Azharuddin Questions Gill’s T20 Omission, Backs Sarfaraz and Nabi for India Call-Up

Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has reignited the debate around team selection, questioning the exclusion of Shubman Gill from India’s T20 setup and expressing disappointment over the continued omission of domestic performers Sarfaraz Khan and Auqib Nabi from the national Test squad.

Speaking in an exclusive interaction, Azharuddin said Gill’s leadership and batting performances across formats have made him one of India’s most valuable cricketers, making his absence from the T20 side difficult to understand.

The former skipper pointed out that Gill has handled leadership responsibilities impressively in both Tests and One Day Internationals while simultaneously elevating his personal performances. According to Azharuddin, a player of Gill’s calibre possesses the skill set required for every format of the game and should not have been left out of India’s T20 plans.

While defending Gill, Azharuddin also turned the spotlight on India’s domestic cricket structure, questioning whether consistent performances at the domestic level are being adequately rewarded.

He specifically highlighted the cases of Sarfaraz Khan and Auqib Nabi , both of whom have produced strong performances in domestic cricket but are yet to secure sustained opportunities at the highest level. Azharuddin reserved special praise for Nabi, describing him as a quality red-ball bowler and a genuine swing specialist who has repeatedly delivered in the Ranji Trophy over the last two seasons.

The former batter argued that domestic cricket serves little purpose if outstanding performers continue to be overlooked despite producing results year after year. He stressed that selectors must identify players according to format requirements, adding that Nabi’s strengths are ideally suited to Test cricket rather than the shorter formats.

Azharuddin also voiced concern over the declining volume of multi-day cricket, insisting that Test cricket remains the ultimate examination of a player’s skill, temperament and adaptability. He urged administrators to continue promoting longer-format cricket, describing it as the foundation of the sport.

On India’s white-ball leadership transition, Azharuddin backed Shreyas Iyer to succeed as T20 captain. He praised Iyer’s cricketing intelligence and said the Mumbai batter has earned the opportunity through consistent performances.

At the same time, he supported the selectors’ decision to move on from Suryakumar Yadav as T20 captain and player, emphasising that international cricket demands sustained excellence and that past achievements alone cannot guarantee a place in the team.

Azharuddin also weighed in on the future of veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli , saying retirement decisions should remain entirely personal. He noted that experienced players understand their physical and mental condition better than anyone else and deserve respect for their immense contribution to Indian cricket.

His remarks are likely to fuel fresh discussion around selection policies, particularly at a time when competition for places in the Indian team remains fiercer than ever.