Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Shubman Gill's exclusion was a major talking point as India announced their squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday. Vice-captain Gill was dropped from the team amid his rough patch in T20Is as the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel recalled Ishan Kishan in the squad following his heroics for Jharkhand in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT ) 2025.
Gill's poor form had led to questions about his role as an opener in India's T20I team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be played in India and Sri Lanka in February next year. Gill made his comeback to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup 2025 earlier this year and displaced Sanju Samson to take over the opening role.
He was also appointed vice-captain of the T20I team. However, his returns were far from impressive as Gill managed only 291 runs in 15 matches at an average of 24.25 since his return to the side earlier this year. Nonetheless, his exclusion led to a debate over the team's long-term planning.
Clarifying the decision to drop the team's vice-captain for the T20 World Cup 2026, chief selector Agarkar said it was a call taken keeping the team's combination in mind. The chief selector insisted the decision was not a reflection of Gill's ability or form, labelling him unlucky.
"We know what a quality player he is, perhaps short on runs at the moment. Unfortunate to miss out. Missed out on the last World Cup as well because we went with a different combination. But it is the combination more than anything else. Someone has to miss out when you pick 15 and unfortunately, it's Gill at this point," said Agarkar in the squad announcement presser.
Alongwith Gill, the selectors also left out wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma, who was picked in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa as the designated finisher. Agarkar admitted Jitesh hasn't done anything wrong, but had to be kept out owing to the team combination as they wanted to have Kishan as a wicket-keeper and back-up opener.
"We are looking at combinations at the moment. If your keeper is going to bat at the top, our thought was to have another keeper. Jitesh was there, and he hasn't done too much wrong," said Agarkar.
After leaving Gill out of the squad, the selectors named Axar Patel the vice-captain of the side. Axar was serving as Suryakumar's deputy in the shortest format before Gill was appointed as the vice-captain following his return to the T20I side during the Asia Cup 2025 earlier this year.
Gill's exclusion also means Samson is likely to be India's first-choice opener alongside Abhishek Sharma. Samson and Abhishek formed a destructive opening pairing for India in T20Is before Gill displaced the wicket-keeper batter from the top spot. With Gill out injured, Samson opened the innings for India in the 5th T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday and played a fine knock of 37 runs off 22 balls.
As an opener, Samson has scored 559 runs for India at an average of over 32 and a strike rate close to 180. He has three centuries and a fifty to name while opening the innings for India in T20Is. He smashed three tons in just five innings as an opener in T20Is last year.
