Report: Shubman Gill Left in the Dark About T20 World Cup Exclusion

A recent report suggests a disconnect between the Indian cricket team's management and Shubman Gill regarding his exclusion from the upcoming T20 World Cup. According to sources within the BCCI, Gill was reportedly unaware of his fate until the official squad announcement, despite the decision seemingly being made days prior.

The pivotal moment, according to the report, occurred not during the official squad selection but earlier in the week when the fourth T20 International faced cancellation due to heavy smog. This cancellation allegedly provided the opportunity for team management to solidify their decision to leave Gill out of the World Cup roster. Despite this, the two-format captain reportedly received no communication from either the chairman of selectors, captain Suryakumar Yadav, or head coach Gautam Gambhir until the formal announcement.

While Yadav, who has been experiencing a slump in performance, secured his position, Gill may understandably feel overlooked and disrespected given the manner of his dismissal, the source suggests. The news of a toe injury sustained while batting further fueled speculation that the team management, led by Gambhir and Yadav, had already moved on without Gill.

Reportedly, team management had already resolved to drop the under-performing vice-captain, even though he had expressed his desire to participate in the Ahmedabad game, claiming his injury wasn't severe. This desire to play, however, was allegedly disregarded, paving the way for his exclusion, after scoring a mere 32 runs across three games against South Africa.

Medical assessments initially raised concerns about a possible hairline fracture, but subsequent scans revealed only a bruise, suggesting that Gill could have played the Ahmedabad match with the aid of painkillers. Despite all of this, it appears the decision had already been made.

Notably, chairman of selectors Agarkar seemed less than enthusiastic about Gill's omission. At the squad announcement press conference, Agarkar acknowledged Gill's talent and potential as a future leader across all formats of the game. "We know what a quality player he is, but, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment," Agarkar stated. He further added that Gill was unfortunate to miss out, but it was ultimately due to the team's desired combination, emphasizing the preference for two keepers at the top of the order. He concluded that in a squad limited to 15 players, someone had to be left out, and in this instance, it was Gill.