Shubman Gill, captain of the Test and ODI teams, was not selected for India's team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Despite being part of the T20 series against South Africa, his form led to his exclusion from the World Cup squad. Gill, for the first time, has broken his silence on not being chosen for the Indian team for the T20 World Cup.
Just before the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, Gill expressed that he respects the selectors' decision and extends his best wishes to the Indian team participating in the T20 World Cup. Gill's recent T20 form has been inconsistent, and selectors cited team combination as the reason for his omission. Akshar Patel has been appointed vice-captain in place of Gill, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the team.
In a press conference, Gill remarked, 'I respect the selectors' decision. Best wishes to the team for the T20 World Cup. I am where I am meant to be. No one can take away what destiny holds for me. As a player, one always wants to give their best for the country. I accept the decision made by the selectors.'
Eyes on ROKO
While the focus currently is on the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to shine in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Both legends were in stellar batting form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, proving their sustained impact with impressive scores.
The return of Shubman Gill might directly affect Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored his maiden ODI century during the recent one-day series against South Africa. The team management is keen to position Gill as the opener, which could result in Jaiswal vacating this spot.
Shreyas Iyer's comeback could stabilize India's batting order woes, as he is set to reclaim the number-4 position. KL Rahul will continue playing in the lower order as a wicketkeeper-batsman, making it harder for Rishabh Pant to secure a spot in the Playing 11.
Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya will not partake in the ODI series, allowing them to remain fresh for T20 assignments. Consequently, the fast-bowling unit will be spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna. In the spin department, India has stars like Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.
