‘I Was Taken Aback’: Former India Captain Surprised by Shubman Gill’s Omission from T20 World Cup Squad

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has admitted that he was surprised by Shubman Gill’s exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup squad. While acknowledging the unexpected nature of the decision, Srikkanth also commended Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee for recognising domestic cricket performances and rewarding form over reputation.

Srikkanth, who previously served as the chairman of selectors, said he was “extremely shocked” by the decision to leave out India’s vice-captain from the marquee tournament. He noted that he did not anticipate such a bold call from the selection panel but still described the final squad as a “fantastic” 15-member unit.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced a 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7 and co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The same squad was also named for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. While many expected a predictable lineup featuring established names, the selectors surprised fans and experts alike by omitting Shubman Gill and recalling Ishan Kishan.

Gill had returned to India’s T20 setup during the Asia Cup earlier this year after being handed leadership responsibilities in Tests and ODIs. His immediate elevation to vice-captain upon his return underlined the team management’s faith in his abilities and long-term potential.

However, Gill struggled to make a consistent impact in the shortest format. Across 15 T20I matches, he managed 291 runs at a strike rate below 140, numbers that failed to justify his place in a high-tempo T20 side. To accommodate Gill at the top, India had to break the successful opening partnership of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, which had delivered positive results.

Despite these challenges, the team management continued to back Gill in the hope that he would adapt to the aggressive demands of T20 cricket. India, however, struggled to consistently replicate the fearless, attacking approach that once made them one of the most formidable T20I teams in the world.

Eventually, the selectors made a dramatic U-turn just ahead of the tournament, withdrawing their support for Gill and opting to drop him—an unusual and rare decision in Indian Cricket, especially for a player holding a leadership role.

“I was taken aback. This is an excellent choice. Shubman Gill’s omission surprised me. He was made vice-captain. He was vice-captain even on the Australian tour. Yes, Ishan Kishan wasn’t even in the squad earlier, but Rinku Singh was. Still, I must say, excellent choice. Congratulations to Team India and Ajit Agarkar,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

He further explained that Gill’s strengths lie more in the longer formats. “Gill is outstanding in one-day cricket. He scored heavily in England during Test matches. But he has struggled in T20Is. When you compare his strike rate with Ishan Kishan or others, it’s not significant. That’s where Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma come in. Abhishek is unquestionably one of the best in the world. Sanju and Ishan provide the wicketkeeper–opening batter combination,” Srikkanth added.

‘I’m So Happy for You, Ishan’

The former chairman of selectors, who was part of the panel that picked India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, also praised the current selection committee for valuing domestic cricket and giving Ishan Kishan a second chance.

Ishan, who last played for India in 2023, earned his recall just days after smashing a 46-ball century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final against Haryana in Pune. The wicketkeeper-batter finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a remarkable strike rate of 197.32.

“Selecting Ishan Kishan is a great decision. He scored runs in domestic cricket, which shows that selectors are paying attention to domestic performances. He has returned purely on merit and performance. He didn’t just score runs for himself—he ensured his team won. Well done, Ishan. I’m so happy for you,” Srikkanth said.

He also recalled that Kishan had faded from the spotlight after scoring a double century in ODIs and later featured in a World Cup squad before disappearing from the national setup.

India did not announce any standby players for the T20 World Cup. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that travelling reserves were unnecessary, as the tournament is being held largely on home soil.

India’s squad for the T20 World Cup:

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan, and captain Suryakumar Yadav

Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and captain Suryakumar Yadav