Following a measly outing off 23 off 12 deliveries in the first of three T20Is, Shubman Gill was dropped from India’s playing XI for the second T20I against Afghanistan in Indore on Sunday. Swapping in place of the 24-year-old was left-handed Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Gill, who had only last year scored a T20I hundred for India, has had a string of poor scores in the shortest format – six single digit scores out of the eight innings he has played after his century.

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In Mohali, the right-handed batter was also involved in a terrible mix up which saw captain Rohit Sharma run out in the first over and exchange a few heated words with Gill.

Jaiswal – having made his debut last year – has been India’s second highest run scorer since January 2023 behind Suryakumar Yadav. With 430 runs off 16 outings at a strike rate of 159.25, Jaiswal has been a menace to deal with for the opposition in the Indian top order – having taken the attack to the bowlers from the get-go in the powerplay.

Among other changes for the Indian team that started in Indore was the inclusion of Virat Kohli, who marked a comeback to India’s T20 colors for the first time since the 2022 T20 World Cup exit.

The Indian team are currently playing their final sets of T20Is ahead of the World Cup this summer in the Caribbean and the USA.

Speaking at the toss about the lineup, captain Rohit Sharma conceded, “We will do things keeping the World Cup in mind but we know results are also important.”

Having won the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2007, India have failed to claim the T20 title since and are also yet to win an ICC trophy since their Champions Trophy triumph in 2013.