Shubman Gill emerged as the most high-profile omission from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, with the selectors opting for Ishan Kishan in a move that caught many by surprise. When the BCCI confirmed the date for announcing the squad, there was little expectation of a major shake-up. Gill, who had been a regular since the Asia Cup 2025 and was even serving as vice-captain, appeared set to retain his place despite modest returns. Few anticipated that the management would make such a bold call so close to a global tournament.

Why the BCCI selectors changed course on Gill

Shubman Gill

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed the squad on Saturday, an announcement that itself came unexpectedly early. The exclusion of Gill stood out immediately. The selectors appeared to rethink their long-term plan, axing the opener who had earlier replaced Sanju Samson in the T20I setup. While Gill’s dip in form and the unsettled team combination played a role, the decision was striking given the management’s reputation for backing players through lean patches.

Since his return as opener and vice-captain in 2025, Gill has failed to score a single half-century in 15 T20I innings. His average slipped below 25, while his strike rate hovered under 140—numbers that raised concerns in a format demanding consistent explosiveness. The team management had seemingly earmarked him for a role similar to the one Virat Kohli played in the previous edition, a view also echoed by former cricketer Robin Uthappa. Gill was also seen as a future successor to Suryakumar Yadav post the World Cup.

However, the ripple effect of this experiment proved costly. Samson was forced to bat out of position before eventually being dropped, while the team struggled to accommodate Rinku Singh due to the need for a wicketkeeper-finisher in Jitesh Sharma. With balance becoming a growing issue, the selectors have now reversed course, bringing back both Samson and Rinku into the squad.

Adding another layer to the story, reports suggest the selection panel was divided on Gill’s inclusion. According to journalist Rajeev Mishra, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir were in favour of retaining Gill. However, three other selectors—RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, and one more member were reportedly against his inclusion, believing he does not currently fit into India’s T20I plans. With the majority opposed, Agarkar was overruled, leading to Gill being informed of his omission just minutes before the official announcement.

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