Shubman Gill breaks silence on T20 World Cup snub
Indian cricket team ODI captain Shubman Gill has finally broken his silence on being excluded from the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, expressing respect for the selectors’ decision while maintaining a philosophical outlook on his future. Speaking ahead of India’s first ODI encounter against New Zealand on Sunday, Gill wished the team luck for the competition and emphasized his belief in destiny.
“Whatever is written in my destiny”
Gill has not enjoyed a good run of form in the shortest format of the sport lately, and the team management decided to exclude him from the squad with a focus on ‘team composition’. In his place, all-rounder Axar Patel was appointed deputy to T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
“I respect the selectors’ decision. All the best to the team for the T20 World Cup,” he told reporters.
“I am where I have to be and whatever is written in my destiny no one can take that from me. A player always believes he will try his best for the country and the selectors have taken their decision,” he added.
The 25-year-old’s mature response to the snub demonstrates his mental strength and professional approach, despite what must be a disappointing blow to his World Cup aspirations.
Gill’s response under spotlight in ODI series
It remains to be seen how India captain Shubman Gill responds on the field after being axed from the T20 World Cup side, with his form being a concern apart from the injuries that kept him out of the majority of the series against South Africa late last year.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s prime form is expected to drive India’s progress in ODIs as the full-strength hosts take on a new-look New Zealand in the first match of the three-match series on Sunday at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi.
Even as focus remains on the T20 World Cup, which is less than a month away, Kohli and Rohit will hog the limelight in the three ODIs over the next seven days. There has been no dearth of game-time for the two superstars who played a couple of matches each in the Vijay Hazare Trophy’s league round, piling up big runs to underline that they are not going away anytime soon.
Batting order reshuffles expected
Gill’s return, however, is likely to take Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the top order where he scored his maiden ODI century in the last match against South Africa. The return of Shreyas Iyer should end a largely unsuccessful run of experiments in the batting order, with the 31-year-old set to claim his No. 4 spot back.
KL Rahul’s continued role as a lower-order batter and wicketkeeper is set to keep Rishabh Pant out of the XI, with the latter remaining second choice in the 50-overs format.
While Iyer, Pant, and Mohammed Siraj were not part of the preparations for the ODI series in Kotambi until Saturday, Ravindra Jadeja trained at full tilt on Friday, signaling his availability.
Pace and spin options
Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are not part of the ODI series to keep them fresh for T20 assignments, leaving the pace-bowling duties to Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna.
Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Jadeja will share the spin-bowling responsibilities in a format where evening dew and the flat nature of wickets across the country ensure that the emphasis shifts to containment rather than aggressive wicket-taking.
New venue and New Zealand’s challenges
It will be the first time that the new Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi will host a men’s international. The venue has previously hosted a women’s ODI series between India and the West Indies.
For New Zealand, their loss to India in last year’s Champions Trophy final carries little significance, as this series presents an ideal opportunity to test new and second-line players. Mitchell Santner is missing the ODIs due to a groin injury and Tom Latham is back home for the birth of his first child. Former captain Kane Williamson is in South Africa, fulfilling his T20 commitments in the SA20.
Rachin Ravindra and fast bowler Jacob Duffy have been rested, while Matt Henry, returning from a calf tear, is focused on returning in the T20I series keeping the World Cup in mind.
Michael Bracewell will lead the side in Santner’s absence, who will return for the T20Is. Jayden Lennox has been brought into the Kiwis’ side as a like-for-like replacement for Santner.
Even with plenty of new and inexperienced faces in the squad, New Zealand still have formidable batting strength which includes Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, and Glenn Phillips.