India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement triggered a big debate, primarily centered on the omission of Shubman Gill. Despite being the current captain of India’s Test and ODI teams, Gill was unexpectedly left out of the 15-member roster for the shortest format. Addressing the media, captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that the decision was a tactical one aimed at team balance rather than a reflection of Gill’s talent, as they prioritize having a wicketkeeper-batter in the opening slot.
Shubman Gill's absence from India's T20 World Cup triggers debate
The 26-year-old’s exclusion follows a difficult stretch in T20Is. After being named vice-captain for the 2025 Asia Cup, Gill struggled to translate his red-ball dominance into T20 success. In the 15 matches since his return to the format, he managed only 291 runs at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137. He failed to record a single half-century during this period, with his highest score being 47, which created pressure on the selection committee to explore more aggressive options at the top.
Suryakumar on why Gill was dropped from T20 World Cup squad
The tactical reshuffle also provides clarity for other batters in the lineup. Sanju Samson, who had previously excelled as an opener with three T20I centuries, was pushed down the order and eventually benched to accommodate Gill's return as an opener. However, in the series finale against South Africa, Samson returned to the top and struck a fluent 37 off 22 balls. With Gill now out of the picture, India looks set to return to a combination featuring Samson or the newly recalled Ishan Kishan at the top to partner Abhishek Sharma.
"It's not about form, it's about combination. We wanted to have a keeper at the top. We know the quality that Gill brings," Suryakumar said at the press conference.
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Ishan Kishan roars back to India's squad
In a strategic shift, the Indian team management has decided to return to their preferred combination of featuring a wicketkeeper-batter at the top of the order. This tactical move resulted in Jitesh Sharma being left out of the squad, while Ishan Kishan has been recalled as both the backup wicketkeeper and a reserve opening option.
Kishan’s return follows an extraordinary domestic run in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he led Jharkhand to their first-ever title. He dominated the tournament as the leading run-scorer, amassing 517 runs in 10 matches at a stellar average of 57.44 and a strike rate of 197.32. His campaign was highlighted by two centuries and two fifties, including a match-winning 101 in the final against Haryana. Additionally, Rinku Singh—a key member of India's Asia Cup-winning team—has been brought back to serve as the team's specialist finisher.
In terms of leadership, all-rounder Axar Patel has been elevated to the role of vice-captain. He will support Suryakumar Yadav, who has been confirmed as captain for both the 2026 T20 World Cup and the preceding five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which is set to begin on January 21, 2026.
India T20 World Cup squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Axar Patel (vice-capt) Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan