Ricky Ponting expresses surprise over Shubman Gill's T20 World Cup snub: 'I couldn’t believe that'

Ricky Ponting has expressed surprise over Shubman Gill's omission from India's T20 World Cup squad, claiming he couldn’t believe the top-order batter, who captains the Gujarat Titans franchise in the Indian Premier League, is not part of the Men in Blue’s current T20 plans. The former Australia captain added that while Gill’s absence certainly is surprising, it also highlights the depth of Indian cricket and how they are spoiled for choices at the moment.

“I couldn’t believe that. I mean, I know his recent form hasn’t been great in white-ball cricket. The last time that I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK, where he batted as well as I’ve ever seen anybody bat. I think, one, I’m surprised, but two, it just shows the depth of Indian cricket,” the Australian batting great, who coaches Punjab Kings in the IPL, said on the ICC Review.

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“If you can think that someone as good as Shubman Gill doesn’t get picked in a World Cup squad, then it goes to show how many good players they do have,” he added.

Why Gill was overlooked for the T20 World Cup yet again

Gill, who had also been overlooked for India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, had been shoehorned into India’s T20I batting lineup during the Asia Cup in September and was even named vice-captain in the format.

The 26-year-old, however, couldn’t carry his red-hot form in the Test format over to Twenty20 Internationals, and struggled to make an impact not just in the continental event but also in the T20I assignments in Australia as well as in the home series against South Africa.

Also Read | Agarkar, Surya explain Gill's absence from India's T20 World Cup squad: ‘Someone has to miss out’

Gill’s sudden reintroduction to the T20I format also disturbed what was a successful batting order, with keeper-batter Sanju Samson unable to adjust to the middle order after forming a successful opening pairing with Abhishek Sharma.

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The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, however, decided to fall back on the tried-and-tested combination as they dropped a bombshell while unveiling the squad for the T20 World Cup last month, omitting Gill’s name from the 15-man list.

“We know what a quality player he is, but, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment. It’s unfortunate to have missed out in the last World Cup as well because we went with different combinations,” Agarkar had said during the press conference at BCCI’s Mumbai headquarters.

Also Read | Shubman Gill was kept in dark on T20 World Cup snub until India squad announcement

Besides Gill, Jitesh Sharma – who had briefly replaced Samson as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for T20Is and is a lot more suited to the middle-order – was also dropped from the T20 World Cup squad.

Ishan Kishan was picked as the reserve opener and wicketkeeper, getting rewarded by the selectors for his exceptional performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

And with Gill out, all-rounder Axar Patel was once again appointed captain Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy, a role he had initially been appointed to in February.