IND vs NZ: Why Shreyas Iyer Got The Nod Over Shubman Gill As Tilak Varma’s Replacement

IND vs NZ: As per the latest update, India's star batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand, which will begin next week. Shreyas Iyer has been named as his replacement, who too had made a comeback to the national side after a long injury layoff.

But Shubman Gill, who is India’s ODI and Test skipper, was yet again ignored by the selectors.

Shubman Gill's exclusion raised eyebrows

This decision left a few people stunned, as he was part of India's team till the series against South Africa last year. His being dropped from both the New Zealand T20I and the T20 World Cup 2026 has raised questions about his participation in this format.

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There are no doubts about his ability as a batter in this format. But it's about adaptability in this format, where Shreyas Iyer has an upper edge just like Tilak Varma.

Let us look at the most probable reasons why the Board of Control for Cricket in India ignored Shubman Gill and picked Shreyas Iyer instead as Tilak Varma’s replacement.

1) Shreyas Iyer is a better No. 3 than Shubman Gill

[Shreyas Iyer stats at No. 3 in T20Is and IPL]

Shubman Gill, on the other hand, has played only as an opener in T20Is and has not been an aggressive anchor. His numbers reflect this limitation, as he averages just 28.03 from 36 T20I matches at the top of the order.

Shreyas Iyer, in contrast, is a natural No. 3 batter. He has featured in 19 T20Is at that position and averages 35.33. While this figure does not match Tilak Varma’s numbers, Iyer remains the closest and most suitable like-for-like replacement, making him a better option than Gill in the current setup.

Overall, Shreyas Iyer has played 47 T20Is, scoring eight half-centuries at an average of 30.67 and a strike rate of 136.13. His effectiveness at No. 3 is also well established in the IPL, where he has played 61 matches in that position, averaging 33.41 with a strike rate of 135.03.

2) Benching Shubman Gill after T20I inclusion is 'an image to avoid.'

[Shubman Gill stats in T20Is]

During the 2023–24 South Africa tour, Gill endured one of his worst T20I series, averaging just 4 across two matches. In the 2025 India vs South Africa T20I series, he managed only 32 runs from three games at an average of 10.67. His Asia Cup numbers were also modest, averaging 21.17 across seven matches.

These numbers suggest that Gill’s batting style does not fully align with the aggressive demands of modern T20 cricket.

Moreover, selecting him as Tilak Varma’s replacement would have forced multiple changes in the batting order. Sanju Samson might have been pushed down the order, potentially affecting his natural game, while Suryakumar Yadav could also have been forced into an unfamiliar role.

Moreover, selecting Gill would almost mandate playing him, as benching a marquee player and team poster boy would raise further questions and complicate team dynamics.

3) Shreyas Iyer deserved an India T20I callback

[Shreyas Iyer stat comparison]

While his career T20I strike rate stands at 136.13, his earlier years were marked by inconsistent scoring rates ranging from 110 to 140s, with exceptions seeing 180+ strike rates.

Since being dropped, Iyer has worked extensively on his game, especially in the IPL circuit. In the 2024 IPL season, he struck at 146.86, and in the recent IPL 2025, he has registered an outstanding strike rate of 175.07 while averaging 50.33.

These numbers strongly justify his recall and underline why the selectors opted for him over Shubman Gill in the New Zealand T20I series.