Shikhar Dhawan said he would pick Shubman Gill over himself in the Indian team given the young cricketer’s form with the bat of late.

Gill has been in sublime form in all three formats this season, with the 23-year-old virtually securing his place in the side for the ODI World Cup to be held in India later this year, as Dhawan finds himself out of favour due to a dip in form.

Young Gill’s form has seen him score centuries in all three formats this year, including an ODI double-hundred against New Zealand and a century against Australia in the drawn fourth and final Test at the Moteral in Ahmedabad.

Dhawan, a veteran of 167 ODIs and one who would still be eyeing a place in the Indian side for the ODI World Cup, said he would pick Gill over himself based on the latter’s current form if he was the selector.

“I feel the way Shubman is playing is simply too good. He has been performing well in all formats. Also, he has been playing more matches in the international circuit while I wasn’t.

“So if I were the selector, then definitely, I would have given the chance to Shubman... Would have selected Shubman over me,” Dhawan told Aaj Tak.

Dhawan added that while skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid had earlier backed him and told him to focus on the ODI World Cup, a dip in form, coupled with Gill’s ascendency, has seen him lose his place in the side.

“The year 2022 was very good for me. I was consistent in ODIs. But there is this young guy who has been doing well in all formats.

"And when my form dipped in a series or two, then they gave a chance to Shubman and he has lived up to their expectations."

Written with PTI inputs