"The selectors will have thought of that" - Irfan Pathan's huge statement on India's squad for 2026 T20 World Cup

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opened up on Jitesh Sharma's non-selection in the Men in Blue's squad for T20 World Cup 2026. Pathan feels Jitesh has been dropped for Rinku Singh, who not only brings in that left-hander's ability but also strengthens the fielding unit.

Jitesh's omission from the squad raised plenty of eyebrows, given he has showcased his potential in the limited chances given. The 32-year-old has a healthy strike rate of 151.40 in 16 T20Is and holds the potential to finish the innings strongly. But Ishan Kishan has been recalled to fill in the slot of the second keeper-batter, while Rinku is one of the lower middle-order batters.

Speaking in a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Pathan believes having both Jitesh and Sanju Samson in the squad means fielding can become thin, claiming Rinku is a gun fielder. The 41-year-old reckons Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant were also in the race after Shubman Gill's omission.

"Rinku Singh has been given an opportunity instead of Jitesh Sharma. Rinku Singh brings in an ability of a left-hander. I had said before that if both Jitesh and Sanju Samson, India have two wicketkeepers on the field. But when this happens, fielding becomes slightly thin and it matters in a big stage like the World Cup. Hence, selectors will have thought of that. Rinku is a gun fielder. If Jitesh is not there, Yashasvi Jaiswal was in the race since Shubman Gill was out. Jaiswal was part of the previous T20 World Cup squad too. If we talk of keepers, Rishabh Pant can also say he has batted in the top of the order and was part of that squad too. But Ishan Kishan has swooped in to take the spot," said Pathan.

Kishan jumped into the reckoning after captaining Jharkhand to title victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The left-hander was also the leading run-getter of the tournament, clattering 517 runs in ten innings at 57.44.

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"They felt this was not going right" - Irfan Pathan decodes Shubman Gill's omission from T20 World Cup 2026 squad

Irfan Pathan opened up on Shubman Gill's omission. (Image Credits: Getty)

Pathan suggested that the selectors might have been justified for recalling Gill and expecting stability at the top but felt his poor returns forced them to make a change. He added:

"Surely, Ishan Kishan has performed well but both Pant and Jaiswal will feel like they have missed out. But Jaiswal doesn’t keep and you need a keeper in the top order since Jitesh is out of the squad. Pant is not in the scheme of things currently. Selectors previously thought of bringing in Shubman Gill. They planned that Abhishek Sharma is an explosive hitter and Gill will give stability. That was the thought process behind bringing in Gill and they made him the vice-captain. The World Cup is around the corner and they took a U-turn because they felt this was not going right. On one hand, we are praising that the domestic performer has been awarded but you have taken a U-turn here."

Samson and Abhishek Sharma have potentially been locked in as openers for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand in January, and the T20 World Cup.

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Edited by Sooryanarayanan Sesha