Bhubaneswar, Dec 14: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s blistering century against Haryana in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has added a fresh fire to India’s T20I selection debate, especially concerning Shubman Gill’s form as an opener.

With the selectors already leaning toward a more aggressive powerplay approach, Jaiswal’s innings has arrived at a time when Gill’s strike‑rate and adaptability in the shortest format are under scrutiny.

Jaiswal’s 100 came off just 47 balls, showcasing the kind of fearless, high‑tempo batting that modern T20 cricket demands. His ability to dominate the powerplay, take on spin immediately, and maintain a strike‑rate well above 150 makes him a compelling contender for the opening slot.

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More importantly, his domestic form mirrors his recent international performances, where he has consistently shown intent from ball one.

In contrast, Gill — despite being one of India’s most technically gifted batters — has had a mixed run in T20Is. His strike‑rate in the format has often hovered around 120s and 130s, raising questions about whether he fits into India’s evolving template of ultra‑aggressive starts.

While the team management as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir are already under a lot of pressure for keeping Sanju Samson on the bench despite his strong show in the T20Is, Jaiswal’s innings will now raise more voices against the team selection and the continuous backing of Gill despite poor run of form.

Jaiswal’s century has intensified the competition. With the T20 World Cup approaching, India is likely to experiment with combinations. However, there is one concern: it seems the message has been changed — from “spots will be earned through intent and consistency” a year ago to “impact, consistency or form doesn’t matter, but player’s name does.”

Despite the poor form or lack of runs, and going by how selection work at the moment under Gambhir, Gill is most likely to keep his place as an opener.