Former England captain Eoin Morgan has backed India as the favorites to win the T20 World Cup but expressed his disagreement with the Indian selectors’ decision to relegate Shubman Gill as a touring reserve for the marquee tournament in the US and the West Indies, starting June 1.
“The strongest side, even with injuries throughout the tournament, is India. Their strength and depth are absolutely incredible. And it’s almost probably that we’re talking about the players that were missed out on in their squad of 15 because of the quality that they possess,” Morgan said.
“They are favorites for me because of the quality they have on paper; if they produce it, I think they can beat anybody quite well in the tournament,” he added.
Morgan, however, isn’t happy over the selectors’ call to prefer Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of Gill, with whom he had opened the innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the past seasons of the IPL.
“The only decision I would have had differently, and if I were selecting the squad, I would have Shubman Gill over Yashasvi Jaiswal. I have played alongside him, and I know how he thinks. I know how he works.
“I feel he’s a future leader within that side, and I think in big moments, in World Cups, the more leaders, the better. Even if he’s sitting on the sidelines, you still need inspiration from here and there, a sense of positivity,” he said.
Nasser Hussain and Atherton quipped Morgan about India’s style of playing in the T20 and how, in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, they were hammered by 10 wickets.