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Former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik feels Shubman Gill's snub from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad shows a lack of clarity on the selectors' and the team management's part. Vice-captain Gill was dropped from the 15-man squad for the showpiece event next year as selectors recalled Ishan Kishan into the side after his terrific show in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.
Gill was excluded from the T20 World Cup squad along with Jitesh Sharma, who was also part of the team in the recent five-match T20I series against South Africa. Gill axing might come as a surprise to many, however, his spot was under the scanner amid his poor run with the bat in T20Is.
Gill made his comeback into India's T20I setup during the Asia Cup earlier this year and appeared firmly in India's plans for the T20 World Cup next year after he was named the vice-captain of the side. However, the right-hander failed to justify his chances and was dropped from the squad for the showpiece event.
"India's World Cup T20 squad is announced, and guess what? Shubman Gill, the current vice-captain of the T20 team and incumbent opener, has been dropped not just from the eleven, but from the squad. And they wanted to bring in an extra opener, so they brought in Ishan Kishan and dropped Jitesh Sharma as well, and instead of Jitesh Sharma, it's going to be Rinku Singh," Karthik said in a video on Instagram.
"That is huge news, dropping Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma. I didn't see that coming. Just tells you there's a little bit of clarity lacking. They backed Shubman Gill for so long, and come the day when they picked the squad, they have let him go," he added.
While Gill was dropped due to poor form and keeping the team combination in mind, Jitesh's exclusion too was down to the team combination. With Kishan the back-up wicket-keeper in in the side, the selectors went for Rinku Singh as the specialist finisher, snubbing Jitesh, who was earlier being backed for the role.
Calling the duo's omission shocking, Karthik said he didn't expect both Gill and Jitesh to be left out of the squad. The former wicket-keeper batter insisted India have named a strong squad, but highlighted that lack of experience will be an issue in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have retired.
"A couple of areas of vulnerability that India would have for the first time ever in a T20 World Cup. They will have no experience of the two greatest that's probably ever played, Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli in a World Cup team. And the second point would be Suryakumar Yadav's form, but we all know how good he is, that vulnerable aspect. Will it change into a strength if he finds form? It definitely will," said Karthik.
"Well, let's just finish by saying. Shubman Gill I didn't see that coming, and I feel really bad for Jitesh Sharma. Two shocking omissions from this squad," he added.
India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that the decision not to pick Gill in India's squad for the T20 World Cup was down to the team's combination and was not a reflection of Gill's form or skills. Agarkar said the selectors wanted to have Ishan Kishan as the second wicket-keeper in the squad as a back-up to Samson, who is likely to be the first-choice opener with Abhishek.
