Overview:
Right before last year’s Asia Cup, Shubman Gill found himself promoted into India’s T20I blueprint as the sheet-anchor in the batting order.
Shubman Gill has spoken publicly for the first time after being left out of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The decision raised eyebrows, given Gill’s role as vice-captain of the T20I side since Gautam Gambhir assumed charge as head coach.
Gill discussed the matter during a press interaction before the New Zealand ODIs, noting that he had no sense of frustration over the decision and remained confident in his future prospects.
“Firstly, it is my belief that in my life, I’m exactly where I am supposed to be, and whatever is destined for me will come my way. As a cricketer, my aim is always to help my team win, but I completely respect the selectors’ decision. I wish the T20 side all the best and hope they go on to lift the World Cup,” Gill said ahead of the India-New Zealand ODI series.
Right before last year’s Asia Cup, Shubman Gill found himself promoted into India’s T20I blueprint as the sheet-anchor in the batting order. The selection shuffle pushed Sanju Samson out of the opening slot, despite him notching up three T20I centuries in 12 months. Gill began his stint as an opener with Abhishek Sharma, a close friend.
The tweak didn’t deliver. India’s batting looked restrained and out of sync with the fearless template associated with Gambhir’s regime. With the T20 World Cup in mind, the management dropped Gill and restored Sanju Samson as opener.
Gill, as the story goes, discovered he’d been left out of the World Cup squad while on the team bus ahead of the last T20I against South Africa. In the following game, Samson and Abhishek Sharma blasted 60 inside five overs, and it ended up being the only match of the series where India breached the 200 mark.
The spotlight returns to Samson and Abhishek when India will lock horns with New Zealand in a five-match T20I series following the ODI leg. Team India will aim to rediscover the winning formula that served them exceptionally well through 2024 and 2025. The 2026 T20 World Cup kicks off on February 7.
India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku SIngh, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishan Kishan.