Shubman Gill, the captain of India’s ODI team, has spoken openly about not being selected for the T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
He talked to reporters just before India’s first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday at the new Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi. This will be the first men’s international match at this venue, which earlier hosted a women’s ODI series between India and West Indies. Gill made it clear that he fully accepts the selectors’ choice and has no complaints about the decision.
In simple words, Gill said he respects what the selectors decided and wished the team the best for the T20 World Cup. He also shared a message about fate, saying that he is where he is meant to be and whatever is written in his destiny cannot be taken away by anyone.
He mentioned that every player wants to give their best for the country, but the final selection depends on what the selectors think is right for the team. His recent T20 performance was also a big factor in this decision. In 15 T20I matches last year, he scored 291 runs with a strike rate above 137 but did not score any half-centuries, and his average was around 24, which was considered not strong enough for the fast format.
The selectors focused more on team balance rather than individual names. They made Axar Patel the vice-captain to support captain Suryakumar Yadav. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained earlier that Gill did not have enough runs recently, and since the squad was limited to 15 players, someone had to be left out.
They also wanted a wicketkeeper who could bat at the top, which made Sanju Samson a good option to open with Abhishek Sharma. Many people were surprised by Gill’s exclusion, including Australian legend Ricky Ponting, who said he could not believe India left out such a talented player, calling it proof of how strong India’s batting depth is.
Attention now shifts to the ODI series where India will face a weakened New Zealand side. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are in great touch after scoring heavily in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Gill’s comeback in ODIs may push Yashasvi Jaiswal down the batting order, while Shreyas Iyer is expected to return to his number four position. KL Rahul will keep wickets and bat in the lower order, which means Rishabh Pant might start on the bench.
Ravindra Jadeja appears fully fit after training hard, but Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya will miss the ODIs to stay fresh for the T20 format. The pace attack will mainly depend on Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Jadeja will have to manage flat pitches and evening dew, where controlling the run flow will be more important than taking quick wickets.
New Zealand, on the other hand, faces several challenges due to missing key players. Mitchell Santner is out with a groin injury, Tom Latham is at home for the birth of his child, Kane Williamson is busy playing T20 leagues in South Africa, and both Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy have been rested. Matt Henry is recovering from a calf issue and preparing for T20Is. Michael Bracewell will lead the side, and Jayden Lennox has been added to replace Santner.
They will rely on young talent like Kyle Jamieson and leg-spinner Adithya Ashok. Their batting still has experience with Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, and Glenn Phillips. The Kiwis will look to stay positive using the same mindset that helped them win the 2024–25 Test series in India, focusing on staying calm and playing according to the situation.
The T20 World Cup begins on February 7, with India set to play their first match against USA in Mumbai at 7 PM IST. On the same day, Pakistan will face Nepal in Colombo and West Indies will take on Bangladesh in Kolkata. As Gill leads India in the ODI series, fans are waiting to see how he responds to this setback and whether he can make a strong comeback with his performance in the upcoming matches.