All eyes will be on the return of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya as reigning world champions India begin their road to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India and Sri Lanka 2026, with the first of the five-match T20I series against South Africa getting underway at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack today. Speaking on ‘Follow the Blues’, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar highlighted Gill’s leadership growth, Pandya’s unique all-round impact, and selection decisions around finishers like Jitesh Sharma that could define India’s World Cup squad.
Speaking on ‘Follow the Blues’, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar discussed how Shubman Gill’s growth as Test Captain will benefit him in other formats:
“The confidence Shubman Gill has now after doing so well in Test cricket
over the last year will certainly help him. More than his skill, his mindset has grown. Taking extra responsibility as a Test Captain makes him a far more rounded player. He now understands the game situation and what is needed from him. At the top of the order, Shubman Gill could do the job for the team in T20I cricket. And if needed, Hardik Pandya could do a similar job in the middle order.”
On Sanju Samson’s position in the T20 side:
"The Indian team management did give chances to Sanju Samson. He opened the innings and performed really well when Shubman Gill was absent, scoring hundreds against Bangladesh and South Africa. He also had a run of low scores. But his best spot in T20 cricket is still at the top. With players like Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, or Hardik Pandya available, there may not be a place for him at number four, five, or six. That’s why, if you need someone who can hit sixes with the older ball, you have Jitesh Sharma. He has done it in the past and does it regularly in the IPL. It is good to back a player who has done it for longer. Once your number four, five, and six are sorted, give the number seven spot to a guy who has done that job more often.”
On the Sanju Samson versus Jitesh Sharma selection debate:
“I think Jitesh will now get the number seven spot. The Indian team has tried to fit in Sanju Samson and tried him in different roles. But they have not got the required returns from him at number four, five, or six. Jitesh Sharma has shown he is quite a capable player. He can bat lower down the order and look to hit the big shots even with a slightly older ball.”
On the rarity of a player like Hardik Pandya:
“Look at all the all-rounders in world cricket now. Does England have a back-up for Ben Stokes? No. In one-day or even Test cricket, there is no back-up for Ravindra Jadeja. It is the same with Hardik Pandya. He can command a spot in the top five on his batting alone. He could also be one of the top three seamers in any team if he was just a bowler. The point is, to be that kind of all-rounder, you must earn your place with your batting and also with your bowling. There is no other player like Hardik Pandya in the Indian team.”
On Hardik Pandya’s workload management:
“It is too early to say if Hardik should play six or seven T20Is before the World Cup. But he should at least play the first three matches against South Africa. We need to see how he copes. Playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is different from the intensity of an international game. The team management must manage the workload of important players like him. So, if needed, we must do that for Hardik too. A fit Hardik Pandya allows the team to play its desired combination, especially with the spin options we have. That's why his presence is critically very vital.”
