While Shubman Gill’s omission from India’s T20 World Cup squad stunned many Indian cricket fans, the decision seems to have taken the star batsman by surprise as well. Gill reportedly only learned of his expulsion moments before the unit was officially announced, making the episode all the more acrimonious.
According to reports from Cricbuzz, Gill was informed on Saturday afternoon, shortly before The Board of Control for Cricket in India has revealed the T20 World Cup squad and the team for the previous New Zealand series from his office around 2:00 p.m. The late timing of the call reportedly left little room for anticipation or clarity.
India T20 World Cup squad announced: Highlights
Gill had already left Ahmedabad earlier that day and was traveling back to Chandigarh when the news reached him. While it remains unclear who communicated the decision, the report suggests that Gill was briefed in transit and learned of the outcome of the challenge just before the public announcement.
The omission was unexpected mainly because Gill was preparing for both the World Cup and the New Zealand series. He was also keen to play in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa. Noodles in his right leg ruled him out of the fourth T20I in Lucknow, which was later abandoned, but Gill was said to be willing to push through the discomfort if needed.
That plan changed after the medical board urged caution with concerns that aggravating injuries could become more expensive ahead of the big tournament. The BCCI later confirmed that Gill suffered an impact injury on his right leg while batting in the nets on 16 December in Lucknow and that he was showing signs of improvement after treatment.
Gill’s absence opened the door for Sanju Samson, who featured in the Ahmedabad T20I and has since emerged as India’s preferred opening partner for Abhishek Sharma in the T20 setup. Ishan Kishan has been retained as another opening option and has been reshaping India’s top-order combinations.
Gill’s dismal T20I form
However, the context surrounding Gill’s suspension goes beyond the timing itself. The opener has been under scrutiny for his comebacks at the top of the order in recent months. Since his return to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup in September, Gill has scored 291 runs from 15 matches at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26 without registering a single fifty. His struggles continued in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa where he managed just 32 runs in the three matches played.
That said, the surprise was partially tempered by the clarity offered soon after the team’s announcement. Both selectors and team management were quick to point out that Gill’s exclusion was not a reflection of his long-term ability. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained decisions were driven by team balance and combinations India wants to make it to the World Cup, especially at the top of the order, rather than in individual form.
Now back in Chandigarh, Gill will focus on domestic cricket and represent Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before rejoining the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series in early January. While the ODI squad is yet to be announced, Gill’s return to the national set-up, potentially in a leadership role, seems only a matter of time.
India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (Goalkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
December 21, 2025
