India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill continues to face uncertainty over his future in the shortest format, having once again missed out on selection for the national T20 side. As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for next month’s marquee ICC event, Gill’s name was conspicuously absent, while Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan earned recalls to the T20 setup. The omission has reignited debate around Gill’s place in India’s T20 plans, especially given his stature as a leader across formats.
Ricky Ponting left ‘scratching his head’ over Gill’s omission
Australia great Ricky Ponting admitted he was stunned to see Gill fail to make the cut, highlighting both the batter’s quality and India’s remarkable depth. Speaking on ICC Review, Ponting said, “I couldn’t believe that. I mean, I know his recent form hasn’t been great in white-ball cricket. The last time I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK, where he batted as well as I’ve ever seen anybody bat.”
Ponting added that Gill’s exclusion is less a reflection of his ability and more an indication of the sheer number of elite players India has at its disposal. “I’m surprised, but it just shows the depth of Indian cricket. If someone as good as Shubman Gill doesn’t get picked in a World Cup squad, it goes to show how many quality players they have,” he remarked.
Earlier this year, Gill had been named India’s vice-captain in T20Is, signalling the selectors’ faith in his leadership and potential in the format. However, a string of underwhelming performances saw him slip down the pecking order, eventually leading to his complete exclusion from the squad.
The selection panel appears to be leaning towards format specialists, preferring players such as Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan, who are widely regarded as better suited to the demands of T20 cricket. Despite Gill’s undeniable class and technique, his more classical approach has seemingly worked against him in a format that prioritises explosive scoring.
Ponting, however, reiterated that India’s embarrassment of riches keeps them among favourites for every global tournament. “India’s depth around the country, as we know, is outstanding. Every ICC event that comes up, you have to put them right near the top just because there are so many good players to choose from,” he said.
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