Former India cricketer shocked by exclusion of Shubman Gill from T20 World Cup squad

Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik expressed surprise at the exclusion of India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill from the T20 World Cup 2026 and the New Zealand T20I series. Karthik also voiced disappointment over the removal of Jitesh Sharma from the squad.
The squad for the upcoming events was revealed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Axar Patel was appointed as the vice-captain. Ishan Kishan earned a spot in the squad after leading Jharkhand to victory in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rinku Singh also makes a return to the T20I squad after missing out on the series win in South Africa.
Karthik described the exclusions of Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma as shocking and unexpected. He mentioned that India’s T20 World Cup squad boasts strong players in various roles, including Abhishek Sharma as the best opener, Varun Chakaravarthy as the top spinner, Hardik Pandya as the premier allrounder, and Jasprit Bumrah as possibly the best fast bowler ever.
While acknowledging the team’s strengths, Karthik highlighted potential vulnerabilities, noting the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s experience in a T20 World Cup team. He also expressed concerns about Suryakumar Yadav’s recent form but expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back.
India’s T20 World Cup journey will kick off on February 7 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium against the United States. Subsequent matches include facing Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12, a crucial match against Pakistan at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15, and a game against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18 to conclude the group stage.