 "Shubman Gill not only lost his place in the T20I team, but he also lost the vice-captaincy. Image: JioStar")
Shubman Gill has finally spoken about being left out of India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad, and the young batter has chosen to respond with calm and maturity. Gill said he believes everything in life happens for a reason and that he trusts his destiny. He added that he fully respects the selectors’ decision.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming India vs New Zealand ODI series, Gill said he wishes the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20 team all the best for the World Cup and hopes they go on to win the tournament. His comments came after weeks of discussion around his omission, which surprised many fans and experts.
“Firstly, it is my belief that in my life I am there where I am supposed to be. Whatever is written in my destiny, I will have it. As a player, I want to win game for my team, but having said that, I respect the selectors’ decision. I wish the T20 team the very best. I hope that they win the World Cup,” Gill said ahead of the first ODI.
Why was Shubman Gill left out?
India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement last month raised eyebrows as Gill’s name was missing, while Axar Patel was named vice-captain. Gill had returned to the T20I setup during the 2025 Asia Cup and was being seen as an all-format player. After a successful series as Test captain in England, there were talks that he could become a future leader across formats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
However, Gill struggled to make a strong impact in T20Is. Despite getting regular chances in his preferred batting position, he failed to produce big scores. In the last T20I series against South Africa, he scored only 32 runs across three matches and had not hit a fifty for several months. His inclusion also meant Sanju Samson had to sit out, despite performing well over the past year.
The selection committee later clarified that Gill was not dropped purely due to form. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that the team management wanted wicketkeepers at the top of the order. With Sanju Samson already in the squad, Ishan Kishan was picked as the backup option, which left Gill missing out due to team combination.
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View AllGill has now shifted his focus to the ODI format. He has returned to the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara, where he will lead the team.