Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has strongly backed chief selector Ajit Agarkar for the bold decisions taken while finalising India’s squad ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. According to Harbhajan, the selection committee showed clarity and courage by focusing on players who can deliver under pressure, even if it meant leaving out some big names. He felt the squad was packed with match-winners and praised the selectors for trusting form and impact over reputation.
“Ajit Should Be Given 10/10 For The Team”
Harbhajan was particularly vocal in his praise for Agarkar, stating that the chief selector deserved full credit for assembling such a balanced unit. “The team is really good. I had told that Ajit should be given 10/10 for the team. I felt a little bad for Shubman, but he will get more chances soon. All the players are match winners in their own right. Hope we can win back-to-back World Cups because we have that team,” Harbhajan told ANI. He added that big tournaments demand players who can rise to the occasion, and this squad has several individuals capable of doing exactly that.
Match-Winners Key To India’s World Cup Hopes
Talking about key players, Harbhajan Singh highlighted the importance of experienced campaigners and in-form youngsters. “Suryakumar has not made many runs, but when the WC comes, we will need big players to fire. He will shine bright in that big match. Abhishek can win you matches on your own. The form Hardik is in, he is a key player. We also have Arshdeep and Bumrah in pace,” he said. Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s poor run in 2025, Harbhajan backed the skipper to deliver when it matters the most.
Harbhajan also addressed Shubman Gill’s omission from the T20 World Cup squad, making it clear that the decision was purely tactical. “Gill was bound to make a comeback. I had no doubt that there was any question about Shubman’s return. I think Shubman Gill was left out solely because of the T20 format and the combination Team India wanted. Otherwise, I never had any doubt that he would not be in the ODI or Test team,” he said. Harbhajan expressed confidence in Gill’s return to form in longer formats and backed him to lead India well in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11 in Vadodara.
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