Shubman Gill's exclusion from the India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 has sparked widespread debate, with former India women's team coach WV Raman weighing in on the contentious decision. Gill, who served as vice-captain in several key series, including the Asia Cup 2025, was expected by many to be a part of the final squad. However, his recent performances in the T20 format have been underwhelming, leading to his omission.
Since his return to the T20I side in the Asia Cup, Gill has struggled to justify his place in the XI, managing just 291 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 137.26, without a single half-century. In the recent T20 series against South Africa, Gill's poor performance, scoring only 32 runs in three matches, further solidified the selectors' decision to look elsewhere. India has now reverted to their earlier opening pair, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma set to open, a combination likely to continue into the T20 World Cup.
Raman emphasized that Gill's exclusion wasn't due to any significant fault of his own but rather a reflection of the evolving demands of modern T20 cricket. He drew a parallel to the classic contrast between Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth, suggesting that while Gill possesses undeniable batting pedigree, the need for explosive options at the top of the order has become paramount. According to Raman, in an imaginary scenario, it is almost like choosing K Srikkanth over Sunil Gavaskar for the T20 format, knowing full well who the better batter in the format actually could be. He also questioned the decision to appoint Gill as T20 vice-captain, considering the availability of other players who were better suited to the T20 format.
The decision to drop Gill has been described as a "late pivot" in the selection committee's plans. It allows the return of the Abhishek-Samson combo, while Rinku Singh has also made a comeback, adding variety with his left-handedness and ability to hit pace. Ishan Kishan has also been drafted in as the reserve opener, offering the added advantage of a wicketkeeper at the top of the order.
Gill made his T20I debut in January 2023 against Sri Lanka. In his T20I career, Gill has scored 578 runs in 21 matches at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate of 139.27, including one century and three fifties. He also has a strong record in the Indian Premier League (IPL), accumulating 3,866 runs in 118 games at a strike rate of 138.72, with four centuries and 26 half-centuries. Gill also played a key role in India's fourth title win in the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he scored 372 runs at an average of 124.00, earning the Player of the Tournament award.
Despite the setback, Raman advised Gill to remain positive and focus on the fact that he continues to be among the finest batters in the game today. He also added that Gill's talent is unquestioned, but selection decisions ultimately hinge on how well a player adapts to the demands of a particular format.
