Shubman Gill's T20 World Cup Snub: A Controversial Decision Amid Team Turmoil

Gill's Exclusion from T20 World Cup Squad

New Delhi: The fate of Shubman Gill was effectively sealed not on Saturday when the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed the T20 World Cup squad, but rather when the fourth T20 International was canceled due to heavy smog on Wednesday.

It was on that day that it became clear Gill would not be included in the T20 World Cup lineup. However, until Saturday morning, neither the chairman of selectors nor captain Suryakumar Yadav or head coach Gautam Gambhir had informed him, as per sources from the BCCI.

While the captain, who has struggled with his performance over the past year, received a stay of execution, it is understandable that Gill might feel slighted and disrespected by the manner of his exclusion.

As soon as news broke about Gill injuring his toe while batting, it became apparent that the team management, led by Gambhir and Suryakumar, had already moved on from considering him for selection.

According to BCCI insiders, the management had made the decision to drop the vice-captain even though he expressed a desire to play in the Ahmedabad match, believing his injury was not severe.

This was the initial indication that the underperforming vice-captain, who managed only 32 runs in three matches against South Africa, was being pushed out.

Initially, the medical team suspected a hairline fracture, but subsequent scans showed it was just a bruise, allowing him the possibility to play in Ahmedabad with pain relief.

"Making him vice-captain for the Asia Cup based on his past performances in England was a questionable decision, especially since Sanju (Samson) had not done anything wrong. Dropping him just five games before the T20 World Cup suggests a course correction by Agarkar's panel," remarked a former national selector.

"The decision seems heavily influenced by the head coach, who is not known for maintaining consistency," he added.

During the squad announcement press conference, chairman of selectors Agarkar appeared unconvinced about the decision, having previously viewed Gill as a potential all-format leader for India.

"We recognize his quality as a player, but he is currently short on runs," Agarkar stated.

"He was unfortunate to miss the last World Cup due to a different combination we opted for. Ultimately, it comes down to combinations, and someone has to miss out when selecting a squad of 15. Unfortunately, it’s Gill this time," he explained.

A quick comparison of records shows that Gill has every reason to feel wronged. In 2025, he played 15 innings, scoring 291 runs at a strike rate of over 137, while Suryakumar managed only 218 runs in 19 innings at a strike rate of 123.2, his lowest since debuting internationally.

There are whispers within the Indian team that all is not well with the skipper's right wrist.

In this scenario, the selection committee had to choose between two out-of-form players, and typically, the captain retains his position.

Thus, Suryakumar, by virtue of his captaincy, kept his spot despite a dismal year, while Gill's performance paled in comparison to that of his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma.

Moreover, Gill continues to captain in two other formats, and this decision is likely to foster an atmosphere of distrust within the Indian dressing room.

Will Gill and Gambhir be able to reconcile after this abrupt dismissal?

If Suryakumar fails to improve his scoring, he risks losing his influence in the dressing room and ultimately his position, as anyone familiar with Gambhir knows that for him, "winning is not everything; it’s the only thing."

Today it was Gill, but tomorrow it could be Suryakumar.