AUS vs IND 2025: 'Could they have sent Shubman Gill home as well?' - Former India opener on Kuldeep Yadav returning to play red-ball cricket

Published - 04 Nov 2025, 22:41 IST | Updated - 04 Nov 2025, 23:21 IST

During the five-match T20I series between India and Australia, there have been several incomings in and outgoings from both squads. One of the key reasons behind these shuffles have been the priority the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and CA (Cricket Australia) have been giving to red-ball cricket.

Travis Head has been released from the squad ahead of the last two T20Is, giving him an opportunity to play in the Sheffield Shield to prepare for the upcoming Ashes. Sean Abbott has also been allowed to join New South Wales for their next Sheffield Shield clash. Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav is also returning home to play the second unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A.

In a video uploaded on his official YouTube channel, former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned whether the under-fire Shubman Gill could have also returned to India with Kuldeep.

"Travis Head is now out of the T20I series. He will go and practice with the red ball because the Ashes are about to come. Kuldeep Yadav has also returned home because he will play for India A against South Africa A, so that he can also prepare for red-ball cricket. I am wondering whether Shubman Gill should have also been sent back," he said.

Chopra wondered why India and Australia are playing the T20I series if they are going to give more priority to their subsequent red-ball assignments.

"Josh Hazlewood wasn't there already. Glenn Maxwell might become available now, but Travis Head won't be there. It's a strange series. It's a bilateral series, but is it actually an important series? If preparations for something else are more important as compared to what is happening currently, it means this is not that important. Then why are they playing?" he observed.

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The series is intriguingly set up after India drew level at 1-1 with a five-wicket victory in the third T20I in Hobart. The fourth game is scheduled to be held on Thursday, November 6, in Queensland.