'Never too late to course correct': Gambhir, Agarkar praised for bold call to leave Gill out of T20 World Cup squad

Indian cricket fans were in for quite the shock on Saturday after Shubman Gill was dropped from the India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, the same 15 players also facing New Zealand in a five-match T20I series at home in January.

LIVE | India squad announcement for T20 World Cup 2026

Gill’s place in the T20I side was thought to be secure after the 26-year-old, who has succeeded Rohit Sharma as captain in Tests as well as ODIs, had replaced Axar Patel as vice-captain ahead of the Asia Cup in September.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav’s squad announcement at the BCCI Mumbai headquarters, however, proves that no one – except perhaps the captain himself – is immune to getting dropped from the team if the performance on the field does not meet expectations.

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Axar, meanwhile, returned to the role of vice-captain, a position he had been appointed to ahead of the T20I series against England in January. Additionally, Jitesh Sharma was left out of the side, with Ishan Kishan being slotted in as the second wicketkeeper-batter after his stellar run in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

And after being overlooked for the five-match T20I series against South Africa, Rinku Singh returned to the Indian T20I side. The Kolkata Knight Riders star had struck the winning boundary in the only delivery that he faced in the Asia Cup will be hoping to get more game time against New Zealand next month as well as in the T20 World Cup, though he will likely be competing for a spot with all-rounder Shivam Dube.

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Decision to leave Gill out, recalling Kishan praised by experts and fans

Here’s how former and current cricketers as well as fans reacted to India’s T20 World Cup squad:

Really like the team that has been picked. Big call on leaving out Gill and that tells me that 'Fire & Ice' has been replaced by 'Fire & Fire'. The options Ishan Kishan gives are too tempting to ignore especially given his form. Sadly, that means Jitesh had to go and you feel for…

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 20, 2025

Never too late to course correct. Kudos to the Indian selectors for realising that the Gill experiment didn’t work and best to go back to the tried and tested plan of Sanju at top and Rinku as finisher ahead of the all important World Cup.

— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) December 20, 2025

Ishan Kishan’s glorious form gave Agarkar and Co the wherewithal to drop Gill from the T20 WC squad. In Kishan, India not only got an in-form player but also a wk, eliminating the need even for Jitesh Sharma. Elevation of Axar as v/c gives dressing room dynamics new dimension! pic.twitter.com/3LzKI3NDdb

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 20, 2025

Whoaaa…that’s s lot of changes so close to the World Cup.
Jitesh wouldn’t know what he did wrong 😑
Rinku is back to where he belongs. Why was he left out in the cold?
Happy for Ishan—both keepers are like for like in the batting slot.
Axar back as VC. The experiment with…

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 20, 2025

Looks a very good team . Happy to see Ishan Kishan back and Axar Patel who played such a crucial role in the 2024 WC triumph becoming the VC again. Best wishes Team India for the T20 World Cup. https://t.co/Wf6akD3Paw

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) December 20, 2025

Jitesh sharma will think what did i do so wrong to be missing out?

Surya Kumar Yadav need to be in form getting into the World Cup. Hoping for him to be scoring run vs NZ to feel good abt his game.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 20, 2025

Shubman Gill dropped from the World Cup 15. Ishan Kishan makes a comeback #T20WorldCup

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 20, 2025

Just imagine Ishan Kishan's aura, BCCI sacked the Vice Captain Shubman Gill for him. 🥶🔥 pic.twitter.com/0nOHIspZTt

— Atharv Shukla (@Atharb_) December 20, 2025

Sanju Samson is the default opening batsman instead of Shubman Gill for T20 World Cup pic.twitter.com/P1ehSVZUwY

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) December 20, 2025

oh no gill dropped ab pehle over se dekhne padenge match

— vishal dayama (@VishalDayama) December 20, 2025

Hats off to @GautamGambhir & @imAagarkar 👏
You acknowledged the mistakes, learned from them, and selected the World Cup squad purely on merit.
No Shubman, no Jitesh. Bringing back Ishan and Rinku is a good and bold call. 💯

— Dheeraj Singh (@Dheerajsingh_) December 20, 2025