GT official backs Gill to bouce back from WC snub

• Gill excluded from T20 World Cup squad.
• Sai Sudharsan to be fit for IPL.
• Rutherford traded to Mumbai Indians.

Shubman Gill’s exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup squad is just one of the challenges elite athletes face, and the India Test and ODI captain will return as a “better, stronger” cricketer, according

to Gujarat Titans COO Colonel Arvinder Singh.

Gill, previously the vice-captain of the T20I team, was notably absent when the selectors announced the 15-member squad for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7.

Singh stated that Gill accepted the decision maturely and will respond by excelling in his performance.

“These are minor hiccups that do happen in any sportsman’s life. He’s already made his stand very clear,” Singh was quoted as saying to PTI in a virtual interaction on the sidelines of the launch of the third edition of Junior Titans programme.

“He respects the decision of the selectors. And all I can say is, knowing him, he’ll come back even stronger as you can see now in the two games that he’s played. He’ll come back even a better cricketer than what he was you know, going forward.”

Gill has accumulated 869 runs in 36 T20Is, but only managed 291 runs in his last 15 matches, leading the selectors to choose Sanju Samson at the top of the order.

Gill was reintroduced into India’s T20I set-up before the Asia Cup to stabilize an aggressive batting unit, replacing Samson.

However, this change disrupted India’s dynamic style, which eventually led the selectors to abandon the experiment before the T20 World Cup.

Singh expressed confidence in Gill’s abilities.

“I don’t think anybody has any doubt about his credentials as far as him being a cricketer is concerned. He is a very, very mentally strong sportsman.”

“On a personal basis, I can share with you that he’s very, very strong when it comes from a mental standpoint.

“As far as his talent and his skill goes, I don’t think I’m the right guy to talk about it. The whole world knows how talented Subhman is and what he’s done both for us as well as for the country.”

Sai To Be Fit Before IPL

The GT COO also addressed concerns regarding Sai Sudharsan’s rib injury, assuring that the Tamil Nadu batter would be fit for the IPL and that it was more of an abrasion than a serious fracture.

“Sai will be absolutely fit. It’s nothing serious… It’s an abrasion how they describe it in medical terms. It’s not a full-fledged fracture,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu batter missed recent Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and reported to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on December 29.

Regarding Sherfane Rutherford’s trade to Mumbai Indians, Singh explained that the decision was part of Gujarat Titans’ team-building strategy, prioritizing overall balance, composition, and auction plans over individual players.

“GT functions in a slightly different manner. We take care of what the team is going to look like, what the composition of the team is going to be, what skill sets you are looking at.”

“If the coaching staff has taken a decision that we could let go of Sherfane… we wish him all the best, but GT is not a franchise that looks after only individuals.”

(With inputs from Agencies)