Shubman Gill breaks silence on exclusion from India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Gill’s omission comes amid a lean run in T20 cricket, with selectors opting for a balanced squad composition
PTC Web Desk: Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill has responded with composure to his exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, saying he respects the selectors’ call and wishes the team success in the global tournament.
Speaking ahead of India’s first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, Gill said selection decisions are part of a cricketer’s journey and stressed that his focus remains on performing whenever an opportunity comes his way.
“I respect the selectors’ decision and wish the team all the best for the T20 World Cup,” Gill told mediapersons. “Every player wants to give his best for the country. Whatever is written in my destiny will happen.”
Gill’s omission comes amid a lean run in T20 cricket, with selectors opting for a balanced squad composition. Axar Patel has been named vice-captain of the T20I side, which will be led by Suryakumar Yadav.
As focus shifts to the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, experienced campaigners Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to anchor India’s batting lineup. Both veterans are coming off strong domestic performances, underlining their importance in India’s 50-over plans.
Shubman Gill’s return to the ODI XI could result in Yashasvi Jaiswal making way at the top, despite the youngster scoring his maiden ODI century against South Africa in the previous series.
Shreyas Iyer is set to return to his preferred No. 4 position, ending India’s recent experimentation in the middle order. KL Rahul is likely to continue as the wicketkeeper-batter, with Rishabh Pant remaining on the sidelines.
India will miss the services of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, who have been rested for workload management ahead of upcoming T20 commitments. Mohammed Siraj will spearhead the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. The spin department will feature Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.
The series opener will be played at the newly constructed Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi, marking its first men’s international fixture.
New Zealand, meanwhile, arrive with a revamped squad. Mitchell Santner has been ruled out due to injury, Tom Latham has returned home for family reasons, and Kane Williamson is unavailable due to franchise commitments. Michael Bracewell will lead the visitors.
Despite missing several senior players, New Zealand still possess a strong batting unit featuring Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls and Glenn Phillips, and will use the series to assess young talent ahead of future tournaments.