Why India Left Out Shubman Gill In T20 World Cup 2026? Selecting the final team for major events, such as the T20 World Cup, has never been an easy task. The Indian team looked to have finalised a solid combination for nearly six months. The players performed well in international cricket, making it difficult to change the combination at the final moment.
One person who remained constant in this arrangement was Shubman Gill, the vice-captain of the Indian team, who is the regular opening partner of Abhishek Sharma. There seemed to be nothing but continuity in sight until the very end.
Ishan Kishan’s Late Surge Changes the Equation
Just before the cut-off for the final selections, Ishan Kishan made a late entry into the mix with some impressive domestic cricket. Kishan, who led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, was the leading run-getter with 517 runs at a strike rate of almost 200.
But this return to form proved the turning point. In a move to accommodate Kishan, the squad took a bold decision and that saw the exit of Shubman Gill.
Who Benefited, and Who Paid the Price
Gill’s absence brought back Rinku Singh, who had been overlooked earlier despite impressive showings. But it also meant disappointment for Jitesh Sharma, who had performed admirably with his bat and glovework in the tricky middle-order spot.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s case also emphasizes how selection is quite brutal. Yashasvi had been left out earlier due to senior players, later due to Gill, and now due to Kishan as well.
Shubman Gill & The Case of Current Form
However, selectors claim Gill’s exclusion was strategic and not based on performances, that they wanted the two wicket-keepers batting at a similar position in order to retain Rinku’s spot in the side. The rationale behind the selectors did not relate to Gill’s performances, who didn’t score half-centuries in 15 innings and averaged 137.26.
However, considering the timing, it does not seem that way. If Gill has been able to perform like he did in the IPL, scoring 650 runs with a strike rate of 150.87, then the need to alter the balance of the team would not have arisen.
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Why Form Matters More in T20 Cricket
In T20, current playing form matters more than reputation. Unlike other formats, players are not given much rope to get into form. This could have been the reason for the selection of Kishan, with his explosive domestic form and the added safety of acting as a back-up wicketkeeper.
Unfortunately, however, Gill finds himself on the opposite side of this balance, even as his position as an opening batter is one of the most contested in the team.
The Role of Captaincy
Suryakumar Yadav’s own form has been questioned, but his strong pure record and skill-set definitely favour him. Gill, on the other hand, has competition for places from players like Sanju Samson, who has been receiving considerable support from the team management.
The trust that India has in Samson is apparent, be it trying him out as a batting option or going back to him quickly whenever there has been some apprehension.
The Trade-Off India Has Accepted
India, by not picking Shubman Gill, have effectively accepted a compromise on their part. They are getting more depth in the form of Rinku Singh, which comes at the expense of Jitesh Sharma being left out of the squad.
This also impacts the team’s agility, since they also have a commitment to playing a sixth bowling option, which could either be Shivam Dube or Washington Sundar, making it a choice between Rinku and Jitesh.
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