Former India Cricketer Questions Shubman Gill Exclusion Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
Former Indian opening batsman WV Raman has made a striking remark about the controversial omission of Shubman Gill from India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, suggesting the decision felt like a difficult choice between legendary openers from India’s past.
Raman, who enjoyed a respectable international career in the 1990s, drew an analogy between the current situation and choosing between Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Sunil Gavaskar in India’s early T20 experiments — two iconic openers from different eras and styles. This comparison highlights how complex and nuanced team selection has become in modern T20 cricket.
Gill’s Snub — Shockwaves Through the Cricket Community
Shubman Gill, India’s Test and ODI captain, was unexpectedly left out of the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, despite being named vice-captain of the T20 side earlier this cycle. India’s selectors instead preferred other options, including Sanju Samson and a recall for Ishan Kishan as a batting and wicketkeeping option.
The decision came after a prolonged lean spell in T20 internationals for Gill. Since his recall to the squad ahead of the Asia Cup, the young star endured 15 innings without registering a half-century, averaging in the mid-20s, and also suffered a foot injury along the way.
Insights from Cricket Experts
The exclusion has triggered a wave of reactions from former players and analysts.
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Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian batter, described Gill’s omission as “damage control”, suggesting selectors may be trying to correct a previous misjudgment by picking him based partly on his Test success rather than T20 performance.
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Robin Uthappa labelled the situation “strange”, questioning predictability in team selection while expressing sympathy for Gill and teammate Jitesh Sharma, who was also dropped.
Further discussions have focused on team balance and strategy, especially the return of players like Samson and Kishan, both capable of batting in the top order alongside other established stars such as Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and the pace battery led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Legacy and Future Prospects for Gill
Even as debate swirls, many experts and fans continue to support Gill’s long-term prospects. While his T20 form hasn’t met expectations, his leadership roles in other formats and potential future contributions remain topics of conversation in India’s cricketing circles.
Raman’s comparison to legendary selection dilemmas underscores how high the stakes are for selectors balancing form, team dynamics, and player roles in the T20 format.