In a surprising turn of events, Shubman Gill left out Indiaof T20 World Cup 2026 team, despite being vice-captain at the beginning of the year. His exclusion is part of a strategic decision based on recent form, injury setbacks and team combinations.
Ajit Agarkar explains the reasons why Shubman Gill was dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad.
BCCI Chairman of Selectors, Ajit Agarkarshed light on the factors influencing the choice and shared his views on the rationale behind the choice.
“Obviously, Shubman was the vice-captain and with him not in the team, we had to appoint someone else. When Shubman was unavailable, Axar Patel had already started as the vice-captain and we decided to continue in that role.” Agarkar explained.
Despite being a key player in India’s set-up, Gill’s struggle with form was the main reason for his exclusion. His last scores of 4, 0 and 28 in the South Africa series did not live up to the team’s expectations. Gill, who is recovering from a neck sprain, missed a few matches and failed to regain his momentum in T20Is. “We know he’s a quality player, but ongoing injury problems and a lack of significant runs have made it difficult to pick him.” Agarkar noted. This series of problems coupled with inconsistent performances led to his exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad.
BCCI’s focus is not only on individual performances but also on building the ideal team combination. Agarkar further explained, “We were looking for certain combinations and having two keepers up top was one of the key strategies. Players like Rinku Singh were brought in to strengthen the middle order and offer more depth.” This strategic change resulted in the decision to release Gill, despite his previous contributions to the team.
Suryakumar Yadav on role definition and team management approach
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav emphasized the importance of role clarity and supported Agarkar’s position. “We have certain roles for the players now, Tilak Varma is number 3 and I am number 4. The left-right combination is a bit overrated.” Yadav said. With players like Varma and Yadav providing key spots in the batting order, the team’s focus is on stability.
Gill’s omission is not a reflection of his incompetence, but rather the balance of the team. “Sometimes the management of the team has to make difficult choices, and in this case Shubman should have been deprived of the opportunity. This is not because he is not a good player, but because of the combinations we want to play.” Agarkar explained. The inclusion of players like Rinku Singh, who add depth to the lower middle order, meant there was no place for Gill in the 15-man squad.
In line with the thinking of the team management, Agarkar further emphasized the importance of balance in the squad. “When picking a team, it’s not just about one or two players, it’s about how the team fits together as a whole. Having another goalkeeper up front gives us options and flexibility elsewhere in the lineup.” Agarkar concluded. This strategic move was essential for India to play a balanced combination and unfortunately meant that Gill was left out.
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