India T20 World Cup Squad Announcement Highlights: Shubman Gill snub a real surprise, says Sunil Gavaskar

"Almost certainly, the chairman of the selection committee — and knowing Ajit Agarkar — I’m pretty sure he’ll be on the phone to Shubman, trying to explain to him why they took the call that they did.And I think, like Saba said, it’s a course correction. In the sense that when Shubman came into the T20 squad, Sanju Samson went down the order. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma had formed a very good opening pair — a left-hand, right-hand combination — looking to hit the first ball of the game for a six and getting India off to fabulous starts," said Gavaskar on Star Sports.

"So I think that is something Ajit will definitely speak to Shubman about — assuring him that he’s always going to be in the discussion. But for this particular tournament, considering the fact that he’s had some injuries and hasn’t been in the best of touch, they’ve left him out. That doesn’t mean he won’t be part of future teams," he added.

India's squad for T20 World Cup 2026 squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Axar Patel (VC), Ishan Kishan (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar

"We’ve seen in the IPL he’s very, very good. So the T20 format is not something strange for him. But maybe just that little bit of lack of form, lack of touch, might have gone against him. I do hope Shubman takes it in the right spirit. Because all our doors want the very best for him. I said that some of these injuries that he’s had have been a little freakish. The neck injury, and then of course now recently the toe injury, because of which he couldn’t play the last couple of games," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

"But, to be honest, yes, I think the omission of Shubman Gill, a bit of a surprise. Not a bit of a surprise. It’s a real surprise. He is a classy, quality batter who’s had a fabulous season with the bat.

"Yes, I know he struggled for these few matches against the South Africans. But class always tells in the end. Form is always a little temporary. He was also coming after a long layoff, so he was not in any rhythm. One can understand that when you’re not in a rhythm and you’re playing the shortest format of the game, where you’ve got to go bang, bang. However much you can say that you can play that, if you’re a natural bat, he’s more Test batter. You can see all his natural bent is to be playing along the ground, to be easing it into the gaps. It doesn’t come easily then to be able to play the kind of shots that get you runs quickly.

"So he had a little bit of a problem, but he’s very good indeed," said Gavaskar on Star Sports.

There’s no doubt about Shubman’s quality. He may not have scored as many runs recently, but that doesn’t change how highly we rate him. He was also unlucky to miss out in the last World Cup when we opted for a different combination. Once again, this is more about team balance—specifically the idea of having two wicketkeepers at the top—than about individual ability.

Q: How did team combinations influence selection decisions?

A: Combinations are central to everything right now. If your wicketkeeper is batting at the top, you need cover. That’s why we felt it was important to have another keeper in the squad. At the moment, Hitesh has been there and hasn’t really done anything wrong.

Q: What was the thinking behind the vice-captaincy decision?

A: Continuity played a big role. Shubman was the vice-captain, but since he’s not in the squad, someone else had to take that role. In the past, when Shubman wasn’t playing T20s due to Test commitments, Axar served as vice-captain. So this decision is about maintaining continuity rather than making a fresh statement.

"Since the tournament is happening in our country. We won't have any problem in naming replacements. Hence, we haven't named any reserves for the squad," said Devajit Saikia in press conference.

"It's always nice to see people performing in domestic cricket. But we only have 15 spots to fill. We can take ten names here and say that they've missed out. However, we have no place as we can only pick 15," said Agarkar in press conference.

"This rough patch has been long. All players have gone through it. I know what to do. I have time to fix it. We will definitely see Surya the batter," said Suryakumar in press conference.

"Nobody's talking about Jaiswal. He was in the last world cup squad. Unfortunately, he has to miss out," said Agarkar in press conference.

"It’s not about his form. It’s just about the combination. We wanted to have a keeper at the top. It’s not about his form. There’s no chatter about his quality. He is a terrific player. We needed Rinku Singh. We have Washington Sundar also. So, we needed to be flexible to have multiple combinations. That’s why we have picked this squad. No question about Gill’s class," said Suryakumar Yadav in the press conference.

Suryakumar Yadav reckons that Gill being dropped is not something that is related to his form but rather how they wanted to strengthen the middle order by bringing someone like Washington Sundar or a Rinku Singh.

It’s not about his form. It’s just about the combination. We wanted to have a keeper at the top. It’s not about his form. There’s no chatter about his quality. He is a terrific player. We needed Rinku Singh. We have Washington Sundar also. So, we needed to be flexible to have multiple combinations. That’s why we have picked this squad. No question about Gill’s class, says Suryakumar Yadav

"He was the no 1 T20 batter in the world we know what he brings to the table. We have full faith in our captain to deliver during the World Cup," said Agarkar in the press conference.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav has said that they have two-three combinations ready already after looking at our 15-member squad.

Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has backed the selection of four spinners in the team, saying having both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in the team is a luxury.

Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has said that Ishan Kishan has been picked as an opening option alongside Sanju Samson. "A wicketkeeper at the top gives us good stability," said Agarkar.

"Shubman has been dropped due to combination. Someone has to be dropped when you picked 15. Unfortunately it's Gill this time again," said Agarkar in press conference.

The moment has come and that too, with a top surprise!!

Shubman Gill has not been named in India's T20 World Cup squad, with Axar Patel named the vice-captain in his place.

Suryakumar Yadav continues to lead.

Ishan Kishan's SMAT brilliance has been repaid and he gets a place in the 15-member squad.

India's T20 World Cup squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pabdya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku SIngh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan

Finally, Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav have joined.

Surprisingly, it is not Ajit Agarkar but BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia who arrived at the press conference table first.

He seems in no rush to start off the proceedings, and it seems Agarkar is on his way.

Tense moments ahead as we grow closer to the squad announcement.

"In my opinion, as an individual, it would do a world of good if Suryakumar Yadav goes back and analyzes his dismissals and identifies the areas where the opposition bowlers were trying to target him, and whether they had worked out a clear plan to get him out. I think there are one or two areas he needs to work on; otherwise, I don’t see a major concern," said Saba Karim on Star Sports.

"It is good for Suryakumar Yadav as a captain that the other batters in the lineup have been able to bail him out on many occasions, which is why they remain on the winning side. But yes, as a captain and as an individual batter who has scored so many runs for his team, and has done so much for the side, you always want him to contribute as a match-winning batter for the team," he added.

"The best thing I liked was that, as a captain, as an international batter, and as a match-winning batter, he has at least acknowledged that his own form is not good at the moment. Once you acknowledge something, only then can you move forward. From what we have seen so far, unfortunately, Suryakumar Yadav has been getting out quite a few times playing his favorite shots. So, if Suryakumar Yadav wants to come out of this phase, he will need to pay attention to that as well — whether the opposition bowlers have made a specific plan against him and he is getting trapped in that plan, or whether these dismissals are simply unfortunate," said Saba Karim on Star Sports.

The meeting between the selectors and captain Suryakumar Yadav has apparently ended in Mumbai, with the announcement expected at any minute now.

Stay tuned and don't miss out on anything.

Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn’t had the spotlight in T20Is, with most opening chatter revolving around Abhishek Sharma alongside Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson. But don’t mistake silence for shortage of skill — his IPL record does the talking.

This is a World Cup, though, and margins are ruthless. Jaiswal was part of India’s 2024 title run only as a reserve. Does this time bring a bigger role, or another wait?

"Suryakumar Yadav's poor form hasn't affected his captaincy. Knowing how mentally strong he is and the backup he has from T20 formats, I truly believe in him. The kind of talent and experience he possesses is immense. Maybe he’s saving those runs for the World Cup — and I’m hoping, fingers crossed, that he has kept his best for that stage," said Harbhajan on Star Sports.

"He’ll be the one to watch out for in the World Cup, and hopefully he’ll go on to score more runs than anyone else and emerge not only as the best leader but also as the most impactful player of the tournament. That’s what I’m hoping and wishing for, and knowing him, that’s exactly what he’ll be aiming for as well. Overall, the team is playing well, which is brilliant. It’s just that we want to see Sudek Mariao excel even more. I’m sure his time is now, and I’m confident he will do well," he added.

There could be a slight delay to the press conference. India captain Suryakumar Yadav arrived late at the BCCI office after his flight from Ahmedabad was delayed.

With the skipper now in place, the final steps toward India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement are underway.

The decision-makers have all arrived at BCCI's Mumbai headquarters.

We can expect the squad announcement anytime now, with a press conference featuring captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar also.

Fresh off wrapping up a brilliant T20I series win in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav has landed at the BCCI’s Mumbai headquarters this morning.

The India captain joins chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the rest of the panel as the final pieces fall into place ahead of the T20 World Cup squad announcement.

Decision time has truly arrived.

Amid all the noise around India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement, here’s a quick look at what really lies ahead — the match calendar. Dates locked, venues set, and the countdown officially on for India’s World Cup campaign.

• February 7: India vs USA, Mumbai
• February 12: India vs Namibia, New Delhi
• February 15: India vs Pakistan, Colombo
• February 18: India vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad

If Rinku Singh misses the main cut, a travelling reserve spot could be on the cards. Yashasvi Jaiswal may face the same fate with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill crowding the top.

All-rounder cover could come from Nitish Kumar Reddy or Shahbaz Ahmed, while Prasidh Krishna may slot in as pace insurance.

India selectors and former India cricketers Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh have also arrived at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.

The panel is getting packed now. Will Suryakumar Yadav also join them soon?

All eyes on Mumbai as the squad announcement edges closer.

Most of the buzz ahead of India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement centres on Shubman Gill. The out-of-form vice-captain’s numbers hardly demand selection, yet dropping him would be a bold call. His pedigree is proven, but strong showings from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan have complicated the equation.

What do you think?

Sabyasachi Chowdhury: Tough call? It should be the easiest decision in the world. Shubman Gill shouldn’t have been anywhere near this T20I side to begin with. To avoid a potential catastrophe, he needs to be dropped now. Persisting with him is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. More importantly, continued exposure in a format where he is clearly struggling risks damaging his confidence — something that could eventually spill over into other formats as well.

Kingshuk Kusari: Shubman Gill has not done enough to merit a place in this edition of the T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh are deserving batters who should be in the 15 member squad.

Rishabh Beniwal: India can afford to drop Shubman Gill for the World Cup as his recent performances doesn't warrant him a place in the playing XI. Gill looks a mismatch in the Indian T20I side, which boasts on firepower right from the top to bottom. The opener hasn't been able to adapt to India's ultra-aggressive style and the experiment to bring him back has failed badly.

India’s T20I setup has transformed rapidly since the 2024 World Cup triumph.

With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja stepping away from the format, the script is now completely rewritten ahead of 2026.

Noticeably, even Shubman Gill travelled as a reserve player back then, with Yashasvi Jaiswal having been part of the squad.

What's gonna happen this time?

Can the new-look side deliver again and defend the crown?

India's 2024 T20 World Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Only minutes after chief selector Ajit Agarkar, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has also arrived at the Mumbai headquarters.

The decision-makers are in, and India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement is now imminent.

Stay tuned.

The countdown is on. With India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement nearing, chief selector Ajit Agarkar has arrived at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.

Meetings with the rest of the selection panel are lined up, and a discussion with captain Suryakumar Yadav could also be on the agenda as the final calls come into focus.

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has been in horrendous form in the format ever since he was appointed the team’s full-time captain after the T20 World Cup 2024. In the 28 innings played since the last world cup, he’s scored 448 runs at an average of 17.92 and a strike rate of 143.13 with two fifties to his name. It’s about time that he finds his form with the World Cup less than 50 days away.

Squad day has arrived, and it may come with a bigger twist.

As the BCCI prepares to announce India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad today, reports suggest Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to continue as captain beyond the tournament.

With the World Cup starting February 7, this could be his final run in charge, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the day’s big reveal.

Ishan Kishan, who last played for India in November 2023, has recently led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph. He led his team from the front, being the highest run scorer of the tournament with 517 runs from ten innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of 197.32. Kishan slammed two hundreds and as many fifties during the tournament, including a breathtaking 101 (49) in the final against Haryana. With his strong show, Kishan has also pushed his case for a return to team India. However, it remains to be seen if he has done enough to grab selectors' attention.

“This gives the openers and the No. 3 position the authority to go hard. You can have someone like Shubman Gill play that sheet-anchor role that India desperately need right now, so everyone else can play aggressively around him. India can still use the hyper-aggressive batting template that has worked for them, while Gill bats at a 140 to 150 strike rate, which is where he thrives. It is similar to the role Virat Kohli played in the last T20 World Cup,” said Uthappa in JioStar Press Room.

Indian fans were already tapping their feet over Shubman Gill’s modest T20I returns at the top.

Then Sanju Samson walked out in Ahmedabad and turned impatience into full-blown noise with his blister against South Africa — and suddenly, the opening slot conversation got a whole lot louder.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 looming large, Shubman Gill is firmly in the spotlight, and not the comfortable kind.

His 2025 T20I numbers read 291 runs from 15 matches at a strike rate of 137.26. Decent? Yes.

Explosive enough for a vice-captain opening in T20s? That’s where the debate begins.

Back from a neck issue, the South Africa series was billed as Gill’s reset phase after a muted Asia Cup.

Instead, it raised fresh eyebrows. Scores of 4 and 0 in Cuttack and Mullanpur cranked up the pressure, while a cautious 28 in Dharamshala offered only a brief sigh of relief.

Across three games: 32 runs, a series average of 10.66 and a strike rate of 103.22.

In a format that rewards fearlessness and punishes hesitation, the World Cup clock isn’t just ticking — it’s tapping loudly on Gill’s shoulder.

India’s Predicted T20 World Cup Squad

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar

Reserves: Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Prasidh Krishna

Out-of-form Shubman Gill sits out, and suddenly India’s T20I batting looks unleashed.

With Shubman Gill ruled out of the Ahmedabad T20I against South Africa, Sanju Samson returned to the T20I side and walked straight back into his preferred role at the top alongside Abhishek Sharma.

The impact was instant — higher tempo, early pressure and a batting unit suddenly playing on the front foot.

India’s innings moved at a different speed, freeing Abhishek to attack without restraint due to Samson approaching with the same intent at the bowlers.

This looked like the early images of the kind of template India may need heading into the T20 World Cup

Will India selectors and management be forced to make the tough call of leaving their vice-captain out?

Rinku Singh has not been in the best of form in his last ten innings in T20Is, having scored 134 runs from ten innings at an average of 16.75 and a strike rate of 128.84, with a highest score of 53. While the numbers paint a sorry picture of his form, the lack of consistent opportunities have further added to his woes. He last featured in the shortest format in Australia, where he didn't get a chance to bat.

The official broadcaster Star Sports has informed that the live coverage for the squad announcement begins at 1 pm IST. Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh will be a part of the expert panel during the broadcast.

Gill managed just 291 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 137.26 — numbers that fall short of modern T20 standards. At times, it appeared to shackle India’s aggressive approach

In the T20I setup, Gill remains something of an enigma. Never known for brute power-hitting, the 26-year-old can sometimes look like a square peg in a round hole. His return as vice-captain — a call made after Gautam Gambhir took charge — has effectively made him undroppable, but his form has not justified that backing.

Asia Cup winners.

Series victories over Australia, England and South Africa.

India have looked like the best T20I side in the world in 2025. But with a home World Cup defence looming, perfection still needs fine-tuning, and history says defending crowns is never straightforward in this format.

Rise and shine, India! It’s squad day.

All roads lead to Mumbai this morning as India get set to unveil their squad for the T20 World Cup 2026.

Fresh off a triumphant South Africa series, the selectors are meeting today, with captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar scheduled to face the media later in the day.

Expect a 15-member squad, five travelling reserves, and plenty of debates as India’s World Cup blueprint finally takes shape. Stay tuned — the big calls are coming.