Test and ODI team captain Shubman Gill was not selected in the Indian team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Shubman was part of the team in the T20 series against South Africa, but due to poor form, he was dropped from the World Cup squad. Shubman Gill has broken his silence for the first time on his not being selected in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup.
Just ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, Shubman Gill said he respects the selectors’ decision and wished the Indian team participating in the T20 World Cup all the best. Shubman’s recent T20 form has not been consistently good, and the selectors have dropped him from the World Cup squad citing team combination. Akshar Patel has been made vice-captain in place of Shubman, while Suryakumar Yadav will take command of the team as captain. Shubman Gill said in a press conference, “I respect the decision of the selectors. I wish the team all the best for the T20 World Cup. I am where I should be. No one can take away what is written in my destiny. A player always wants to give his best for the country. The decision taken by the selectors is acceptable.”
EYES ON ROKO
Although the focus is currently on the T20 World Cup, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Both the experienced players showed great batting form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, where they scored big runs, proving that their influence is still intact.
Shubman Gill’s return may have a direct impact on Yashasvi Jaiswal, who recently scored his first ODI century in the last match of the ODI series against South Africa. The team management wants Shubman to open, due to which Jaiswal may have to leave that place. The return of Shreyas Iyer may solve the problem of India’s constantly changing batting order. Shreyas is ready to get back the number 4 spot. KL Rahul will continue to play in the lower order as a wicketkeeper-batsman, which will make it difficult for Rishabh Pant to make a place in the playing eleven. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya will not be included in the ODI series to keep them fresh for the T20 matches. Therefore, the fast bowling unit will be commanded by Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. In the spin department, India has star players like Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
