Why Shubman Gill is not in the T20I World Cup squad? The question is like a puzzle for many Indian cricket fans as he was the vice captain of the format for team India. There are a lot of theories to describe the fact that Gill is not going to play the 2026 World Cup. But why?
Team India was announced for the upcoming T20 World Cup on Saturday, December 20, under the leadership of chief selector Ajit Agarkar, T20 team captain Suryakumar Yadav and BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia. Everyone was surprised when the name of vice-captain Shubman Gill was not seen in this team. In fact, since the Asia Cup 2025, continuous efforts were being made to fit Shubman Gill into the T20 team, he was getting continuous opportunities in place of Sanju Samson, but his bat was completely silent in this format. Gill could not touch the 50-run mark even once in T20I in 2025.
The day when Shubman Gill’s future put in doubts
Shubman Gill’s T20 cricket future wasn’t decided on a single day when the squad was announced. It was decided during the fourth T20I in Lucknow, which was abandoned due to fog.
According to a media report that Shubman Gill’s fate was not sealed on Saturday when BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced the squad for the T20 World Cup, but when the fourth T20 International was cancelled on Wednesday due to dense fog.
According to another claim, it was decided that day that Gill would not be selected for the T20 World Cup, but till Saturday morning neither the selection committee chairman nor captain Suryakumar Yadav or head coach Gautam Gambhir informed him about this.
Axar Patel has been named vice-captain of the T20 World Cup squad after Shubman Gill was dropped. Ishan Kishan has been included in the squad as the backup wicketkeeper, who will also serve as the backup opener.