Ajit Agarkar Explains Why Shubman Gill Has Been Dropped From T20 World Cup Squad: 'He's Been Short Of...'

Shubman Gill is the captain of India’s Test and ODI team and was the vice-captain of India’s T20I team in the Asia Cup 2025 and bilateral series against Australia (away) and South Africa (home). But on

Saturday (December 20), he was dropped from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad.

According to chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Gill’s recent lack of runs and the combination compulsions as reasons for his omission from India’s squad for the T20 World Cup.

“We know what a quality player he is, but, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment,” chief selector Ajit Agarkar said in the press conference for India’s squad announcement.

“It’s unfortunate to have missed out in the last World Cup as well because we went with different combinations. But it’s the combinations more than anything else…Someone has to miss out when you pick 15 and unfortunately, it’s Gill at this point,” Agarkar added.

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav also spoke about Gill’s exclusion from the squad and said his absence is not about form; it’s about combination.

“Post T20 WC (2024) we went to Sri Lanka and we had scored 200 and Gill was part of it. We wanted to have a keeper at the top and Rinku or Washy (down the order), which is why we have an extra keeper at the top. There is no question of (Gill’s) form,” said Suryakumar.

As Gill’s replacement, the BCCI selectors have appointed all-rounder Axar Patel as the vice-captain of India’s T20I team. The Gujarat-based all-rounder who also captains Delhi Capitals in the IPL will be Suryakumar’s deputy in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand as well as the T20 World Cup 2026.

“Shubman was the vice-captain so far. When Gill wasn’t playing many T20Is, Axar Patel was the vice-captain. So, it’s just natural for him to assume the role again,” chief selector Agarkar said.

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