The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced a 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, with the same group of players set to feature in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand scheduled just ahead of the marquee event. The series will serve as India’s final preparation before the World Cup gets underway.
Amid the discussions around the official squad, former India batter Aakash Chopra put forward an alternate Team India line-up comprising players who missed out on selection. Notably, Chopra did not include star batter Shubman Gill, who has been dropped from India’s T20I plans following a prolonged dip in form.
Shubman Gill’s omission highlights shift in India’s T20 plans
Chopra’s alternate squad featured Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Jitesh Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and KL Rahul.
Gill’s exclusion was one of the biggest talking points when the BCCI announced the World Cup squad. The right-hander endured a lean run after being appointed India’s T20I vice-captain ahead of the Asia Cup earlier this year. In 15 T20I innings, Gill managed just 291 runs at an average of 24.25, though his strike rate remained above 137. His inability to deliver consistent performances ultimately led to his omission from the squad for the global tournament.
Gill had been drafted into the T20I setup at a time when India were enjoying strong momentum across formats. Fresh off an impressive England Test series — where he finished as India’s highest run-scorer — the selectors brought him back into the T20I side after a gap of over a year. He was preferred as an opener over Sanju Samson, a decision that sparked criticism, especially given Samson’s strong performances at the top.
However, while finalising the T20 World Cup squad, the selectors appeared to reverse that decision, opting for Samson over Gill. The move suggests a recalibration of India’s T20 strategy as they look to prioritise current form and defined roles heading into the tournament.
India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand begins on January 21 and concludes on January 31. The side will then have a brief six-day turnaround before starting their T20 World Cup campaign against the United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav.
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