Why was Shubman Gill dropped from India squad for T20 World Cup 2026?

The Indian 15-member squad has been announced for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to begin on February 07, 2026. On December 20, during a press conference, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar announced India's World Cup squad, which T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also attended. During the announcement, fans were suddenly shocked when they learned about Shubman Gill’s omission from the T20I squad. A player who became vice-captain of the T20I setup, he is now out of the T20I team just weeks before the title defence. 

After Gill’s omission, Indian fans and experts once again divided into different opinions. Some believe that Gill’s omission is a good decision because he is out of form. In 15 innings this year, he scored only 291 runs, averaging 24.25, with most questions raised about his strike rate. He hasn't scored a single half-century. Shubman Gill returned to the T20I team as vice-captain for the Asia Cup 2025. However, his inclusion completely altered the team's batting order. Sanju Samson, who had been in excellent form as an opener, was allowed to bat in the middle and lower order, but he didn't perform particularly well in his new role. 

Few believe Shubman Gill’s omission is a good decision, while others believe that, despite his poor performance, he should be included. Ajit Agarkar explained that Gill was not dropped due to poor form but because he doesn't currently fit into the team combination. 

"We are looking at the combination. If the keeper is going to bat at the top, currently Jitesh is there, and he has not done too much wrong. But we need to consider the team combination and a keeper at the top,” added the former India pacer. 

"It’s more about the team setup that we want or what the team management prefers to play," he continued. "Their thoughts are... who’s going to bat at the top? Abhishek, obviously, has performed well over the last year. We felt that having a keeper at the top provides more stability for different combinations. There are only 15 spots; someone has to miss out, and at this moment, it’s Gill. It’s not because he’s not a good player. Jitesh hasn’t done too much wrong either. These are the combinations the team management is considering," he concluded. 

Moreover, Captain Suryakumar Yadav also shared similar views. He said that the team combination wants a wicket-keeper batter as an opener. 

"Post T20 WC (2024), we went to Sri Lanka, and we scored 200, with Gill part of that match. It’s not about his form but about the team combination right now. We wanted a keeper at the top, with Rinku or Washy (down the order), which is why we have an extra keeper at the top. It’s not about (Gill’s) form,” said Suryakumar. 

With Gill dropped, Sanju Samson became the first-choice opener and wicketkeeper. Subsequently, Jitesh Sharma also missed out as Rinku Singh was included instead. The selectors also chose Ishan Kishan, who had a terrific run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, scoring 517 runs, including 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries. Kishan’s inclusion serves as a like-for-like replacement for Sanju Samson. According to India's next cricket match schedule, India will have to compete against New Zealand for a 5-match T20I series, ahead of the World Cup. This series will feature the same squad that competed in the World Cup.