Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav explain dropping Shubman Gill from 2026 T20 World Cup squad

Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar elaborated on the massive decision to drop Shubman Gill from the squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The star opener's name was absent in the 15-man squad announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Saturday, December 20.

Shubman Gill was India's T20I vice-captain leading up to the tournament, which included major campaigns like the 2025 Asia Cup, and the bilateral series against Australia and South Africa. However, the opening batter was not among the runs in any of those series, while serious pressure mounted on him with players like Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal on the sidelines.

He had an opportunity to turn things around in the recently concluded home series against South Africa, but could only score 32 runs in three matches, before sustaining a foot injury ahead of the fourth T20I in Lucknow.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that Shubman Gill was unfortunate to miss out as Team India wished to go into the World Cup with a different combination.

"We know what a quality player he (Gill) is, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment, unfortunate to miss out, he missed out in the last World Cup as well. It is combinations more than anything else. Two keepers at the top, that is the way we want to try. Someone has to miss out when you pick 15, and unfortunately, it is Gill at this point. It is not because he is not a good player," Agarkar said during the press conference (via Jio Hotstar).

Team India have named three opening candidates in the World Cup squad in the form of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan, with two of them being wicket-keepers. Ishan Kishan received a call-up after ending as the leading run-getter in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while his last appearance for India came in late 2023.

"A terrific player, there is no doubt about that" - Suryakumar Yadav on Shubman Gill's omission for the 2026 T20 World Cup

Team India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned that there is no doubt regarding Shubman Gill's ability, but the team's demands have led to his omission from the squad for the time being.

"Gill is a terrific player, there is no doubt about that. But now the situation is such that we need a keeper to bat up the order to have different combinations that can win us the World Cup," Suryakumar Yadav said.

The 15-man squad selected for the 2026 T20 World Cup will also feature in the five-match T20I home series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin from January 21 onwards in Nagpur.

Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news

Edited by Gokul Nair