Shubman Gill, recently named India's T20I vice-captain, was surprisingly left out of the 15-member squad for the
upcoming T20 World Cup, a decision announced Saturday by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This move
raised eyebrows, especially considering Gill's promotion to Suryakumar Yadav's deputy and his expected opening role with
Abhishek Sharma. However, a shift in strategy occurred after the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee reassessed Gill's
form, ultimately favoring Sanju Samson for the second opening slot.
While some questioned Gill's place in the starting eleven versus Samson, his complete removal from the squad caught many
off guard. According to the Indian Express, Gill was only informed of his omission when the squad was publicly revealed.
The selection committee, however, had reportedly finalized their decision days prior.
**The Reasoning Behind Gill's Exclusion**
The type of pitches anticipated for the T20 World Cup 2026 reportedly influenced the selectors' choice. With matches
taking place at different venues across India, the expectation is that pitches will become slower as the tournament
progresses. Consequently, the ability to score quickly during the powerplay overs becomes even more vital.
Therefore, selectors placed greater emphasis on the explosive potential of Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan at
the top of the order, a quality where they were perceived to have an edge over Gill. This ultimately became a deciding
factor in Gill's exclusion.
Furthermore, the team's perceived reliance on Hardik Pandya as a finisher also played a role. The selectors felt it was
crucial to recall Rinku Singh to alleviate some of the pressure on Pandya in the later stages of innings.
Ishan Kishan secured his place as the backup opener and wicketkeeper, owing to his impressive performances for Jharkhand
in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. While Gill's form, fitness, and scoring rate seemingly impacted his chances, chief
selector Ajit Agarkar attributed the decision to team 'combinations' during the press conference.
"You're looking at combinations at the moment. Someone has to miss out when you take 15. And unfortunately, it's him
(Gill). It's not because he's not a good player," Agarkar stated, emphasizing the difficulty of the decision.