Shubman Gill, India's Test and ODI captain, has responded to his exclusion from India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 with a philosophical outlook, stating that he respects the selectors' decision and believes in destiny. Despite having served as the vice-captain of the T20I side, Gill was not named in the 15-member squad for the tournament, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Gill, who will lead the ODI team in a series against New Zealand, addressed the media ahead of the first ODI in Vadodara, expressing his acceptance of the situation. "I believe that in my life, I am where I am supposed to be. Whatever is written in my destiny, I think, none of those things can be taken away from me," Gill said. He added, "As a player, you have a belief that if you play well, you will win for your team and your country. But, having said that, I respected the selectors' decision, which was their decision. I wish the T20 team all the very best. And I really hope that they win the World Cup for us". Axar Patel has been named as Suryakumar Yadav's deputy for the T20 World Cup.
Gill's omission comes after a somewhat underwhelming performance in the 15 T20Is he played, where he scored 219 runs at an average of 24.25. This led to fans expressing their disappointment, especially considering that his inclusion had previously resulted in Sanju Samson's exclusion, despite Samson's impressive form in 2024.
However, Gill's focus now shifts to the Test format, where he has been advocating for better preparation for the Indian team. He has emphasized the need for adequate time to prepare, especially when transitioning from white-ball to red-ball cricket. Gill highlighted the challenges of playing Test series with minimal preparation, pointing out the short turnaround times between series and formats. "One of the suggestions that I was very keen on is, if you would see in the last two Test series that we played, we didn't have that much time to prepare," Gill said. He also noted the difficulty of playing in different countries with little time to adjust.
Gill has reportedly requested the BCCI to arrange two-week training camps before Test series to allow players to adjust technically and mentally. He believes that proper planning and preparation are crucial for success in Test cricket and for competing in the World Test Championship. "Preparation for me is really big, and I didn't think that we had that much time to prepare when we came back from Australia, or even after the Asia Cup when we played the West Indies series," Gill said.
Gill's focus on Test preparation comes at a time when India's recent performances in the format have been inconsistent. After a 2-0 whitewash against South Africa at home, India is currently in sixth position in the World Test Championship 2025-27 standings. Gill's emphasis on preparation suggests a proactive approach to improving India's Test performance and ensuring they are better equipped for future series.
As Gill returns to lead the ODI side against New Zealand, with senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad, his leadership and focus will be crucial in setting the tone for the series and for the team's preparations for upcoming Test challenges.
