"At least there should be that much courtesy" - Former India cricketer reflects on Shubman Gill's axe for 2026 T20 World Cup

Former India cricketer Madan Lal has commented on Shubman Gill’s omission from the 2026 T20 World Cup squad, announced on Saturday, December 20. The 26-year-old was left out due to poor form, despite serving as vice-captain, having scored just 291 runs in 15 innings in 2025 at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26, without a single fifty.

On Sunday, December 21, during an interview with KADAK, Madan Lal was asked about reports that Gill learned of his exclusion just hours before the squad was announced. The 1983 World Cup winner said this is usually how players are informed and added that he hoped someone at least showed the courtesy of personally calling Gill to convey the decision. He said:

“Look, in Indian cricket this is usually how players are informed that they are not part of the squad. I hope someone must have called him. At least there should be that much courtesy. The chairman of selectors should call and say, sorry, you are not part of the team. That kind of communication looks appropriate, and even for the player, it feels better. It may not feel good to hear it, but at least it’s something to know that yes, they called me and informed me.”

Shubman Gill last featured during the T20I series against South Africa, where he managed just 32 runs in three innings before missing the final two matches due to injury.

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“This up-and-down phase keeps happening in international cricket” - Madan Lal on Shubman Gill missing out on T20 World Cup squad

In the same interview, Madan Lal said that Shubman Gill had performed brilliantly in the England Test series, scoring 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40, including four centuries. Because of that form, the team management had considered playing him in T20s as well. Gill was made vice-captain starting with the 2025 Asia Cup. However, Lal noted that he didn’t quite click in the shorter format, adding that such ups and downs are common in cricket, and said:

“Look, when his performance was so good in England, maybe the coach thought he should also be tried a bit in this T20 cricket. If they tried him and it didn’t click, then the coach thinks that the other player he has offers a better strike rate and can perform better. So this could be the only reason.” “Just two or three months ago, we were thinking that Shubman Gill should be made captain in all three formats. You know, this up-and-down phase keeps happening in international cricket. Yes, if Gill had been in good form and scored good runs, then maybe he could have been selected. But it depends on the captain and the coach. Their views matter a lot, especially when a World Cup team is being selected,” he added.

Gill has played 36 T20Is, scoring 869 runs in 36 innings at an average of 28.03 with a strike rate of 138.59, including three fifties and one century.

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Edited by Dev Sharma