After the 2022 T20 World Cup disappointment, the Indian cricket team seems to be going through a period of transition in the shortest format. Veterans like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin, etc. are not being picked as Hardik Pandya leads a young group of men in the format. While the likes of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, etc. have started to get opportunities, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir wants Prithvi Shaw to get a consistent run in the team too.
Speaking on Star Sports ahead of the start of the third ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Trivandrum, Gambhir made a rather bold statement as he said Shaw shouldn't have been dropped from the T20I side in the first place.
"He shouldn't have been out anyway as whenever he has got an opportunity, he has given India that kind of an explosive start. He is the right guy. He, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav perfectly fit the template India keep talking about. Now that you have picked Shaw, persist with him," Gambhir asserted.
The former India opening batter also said that Shaw shouldn't be judged every series, and should be persisted with for a long duration.
"Don't judge him by every series. He is young, he is explosive and he is a match-winner. So pick him in the playing XI and give him a longer run," he stated.
As far as Shubman Gill is concerned, Gambhir said that the batter should focus more on Test and ODIs.
"Shubman Gill needs to concentrate on Test and ODI cricket. Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan should be your permanent openers in T20Is," Gambhir opined.
The former India opener left out the likes of Rohit, Rahul and Gill for the two opening spots in the shortest format.