Shubman Gill Breaks Silence on T20 World Cup 2026 Snub
Shubman Gill accepts his exclusion from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad and wishes the team success.
Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill has finally addressed his exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand, Gill said he fully respects the selectors’ decision and wished the team success in the global tournament. He acknowledged that recent form in the shortest format had not been in his favour. The selectors opted for a different team balance, naming Axar Patel as deputy to T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
Gill struck a philosophical tone while reacting to the decision, stating that he believes in destiny and giving his best whenever he represents the country. He reiterated that a player’s duty is to perform, while selection remains the prerogative of the selectors. Despite the setback, Gill appeared focused and composed, underlining his commitment to Indian cricket. His response was widely viewed as mature leadership under pressure.
Attention now shifts to India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand, where veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to play pivotal roles. Both batters arrive in strong form after impressive outings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With the T20 World Cup less than a month away, the ODI series offers India a chance to fine-tune combinations. Kohli and Rohit are set to dominate the spotlight over the next week.
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Gill’s return to the ODI XI is likely to alter India’s batting order, potentially pushing Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the top order. Shreyas Iyer is expected to reclaim his preferred No. 4 position, ending India’s recent experimentation in the middle order. KL Rahul’s role as wicketkeeper-batter is set to keep Rishabh Pant on the sidelines in the 50-over format. The squad composition reflects continuity over experimentation.
India’s bowling attack will be without Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, who have been rested for upcoming T20 commitments. The pace duties will fall on Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, while the spin attack will feature Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The series also marks the first men’s international at the new Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi. Meanwhile, New Zealand arrive with a depleted yet competitive squad, led by Michael Bracewell, eager to test emerging talent on Indian soil.
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