Shubman Gill Breaks Silence on T20 World Cup Omission, Backs Selectors’ Decision

India ODI captain Shubman Gill has broken his silence on being left out of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, saying he respects the selectors’ decision and has made peace with the call.

Gill, who had served as vice-captain of the T20I side since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, was not included in the 15-member squad for the global tournament. Addressing the issue at a press conference ahead of India’s ODI series against New Zealand, the 25-year-old said he remained focused on contributing whenever given the opportunity.

“Firstly, I believe that in life, I am exactly where I am meant to be. Whatever is written in my destiny will happen. As a player, my only aim is to win games for my team. Having said that, I respect the selectors’ decision. I wish the T20 team the very best and hope they win the World Cup,” Gill said.

Gill’s T20I Experiment Ends
Gill’s place in the T20I setup had been a subject of debate since his inclusion ahead of last year’s Asia Cup. The team management had backed him as a stabilising opener in an otherwise ultra-aggressive batting lineup under Gambhir. Gill replaced Sanju Samson at the top of the order and opened alongside Abhishek Sharma.

However, the move did not deliver the desired results, with India struggling to maintain the free-flowing batting approach that had defined their success. The selectors eventually reversed the decision ahead of the T20 World Cup, reinstating Samson as opener.

Gill reportedly learned about his omission while travelling with the team ahead of the final T20I of the South Africa series. In that match, Samson and Abhishek opened the innings and powered India to over 60 runs in the first five overs, helping the side cross the 200-run mark—the only time it happened in the series.

Focus Shifts to New Zealand Series
Samson and Abhishek Sharma will once again be under the spotlight when India take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series following the ODI leg. India will be keen to return to the combination that delivered consistent success between 2024 and 2025.

The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on February 7.

India’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.