Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday announced India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will also double up as the squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.
The biggest talking point from the selection was the omission of Shubman Gill, with Axar Patel named as the new vice-captain in his place, a move that surprised many fans and experts.
Explaining Gill’s exclusion, Agarkar cited a combination of recent form and team balance.
“Shubman Gill is short of runs at the moment and he also missed the last World Cup,” Agarkar said.
The chief selector stressed that the decision was not a reflection of Gill’s ability but rather the composition the team management felt best suited the conditions and strategy.
“He has been dropped due to combination. When you pick 15 players, someone has to miss out, and unfortunately it’s Gill again,” Agarkar added. “There’s no doubt about Shubman’s quality. He may not have scored as many runs recently, but that doesn’t change how highly we rate him. He was unlucky to miss out in the last World Cup as well when we opted for a different combination. Once again, this is more about team balance – especially the idea of having two wicketkeepers at the top – than individual ability.”
Agarkar also addressed the decision to hand the vice-captaincy to Axar Patel, calling it a move aimed at continuity rather than making a fresh leadership statement.
“Continuity played a big role. Shubman was the vice-captain, but since he’s not in the squad, someone else had to take that role,” Agarkar explained. “In the past, when Shubman wasn’t playing T20s due to Test commitments, Axar served as vice-captain. So this decision is about maintaining continuity.”
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, however, expressed surprise at Gill’s omission, backing the young batter’s quality despite his recent struggles.
“The omission of Shubman Gill is a surprise. He’s a class act and a quality batter. I know he struggled for a few matches, but class always tells in the end,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “He was coming after a long lay-off and wasn’t in rhythm. When you have to go bang-bang and your natural game is to play along the ground, it doesn’t come easy. We’ve seen in the IPL that he’s very good, so the lack of touch might have gone against him. I do hope Shubman takes it in the right spirit. I want the very best for him.”
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026 India Squad Announced: BCCI drops Shubman Gill, appoints Axar Patel new VC