Shubman Gill's omission from India's 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup has sparked debate, with former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar offering a pointed assessment of the decision.
While stopping
short of naming the Punjab opener, Manjrekar's remarks were widely interpreted as a veiled critique of Gill's recent struggles in the shortest format.
Gill was given an extended run in T20Is after returning to the side during the Asia Cup in September, but the numbers failed to match expectations. Across 15 matches, he managed 291 runs at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26 - figures that did not convince the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel ahead of the global event.
When you pick some one excitedly on Test performance for T20s, this is what happens. Gill omission is basically selectors rectifying a mistake they made when they got a bit carried away after the England tour. #T20WorldCup
- Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 20, 2025
India ultimately opted to leave Gill out when the World Cup squad was announced, bringing back Ishan Kishan as a replacement. Kishan, who last featured for India in December 2023, impressed on the domestic circuit for Jharkhand in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which strengthened his case for a recall.
In a post on X, Manjrekar stressed that individual milestones should not overshadow the core demands of T20 cricket. Without naming Gill, he wrote: "He hasn't got a single 50 in 20 innings. A stat often cited to suggest loss of form. T20s is & will always be about strike rates. The last thing you want is an out-of-form batter playing cautiously when he comes close to 50. This will lose you the game. "
He hasn’t got a single 50 in 20 inngs. A stat often cited to suggest loss of form. T20s is & will always be about strike rates.
- Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 23, 2025
The last thing you want is an out of form batter playing cautiously when he comes close to 50. This will lose you the game.
Manjrekar also suggested that Gill's selection itself was the result of misplaced judgment, arguing that his strong Test performances had influenced decisions in a format that demands a different skill set. "When you pick someone excitedly on Test performance for T20s, this is what happens. Gill omission is basically selectors rectifying a mistake they made when they got a bit carried away after the England tour," he added in another post.
Gill had earlier topped the run charts in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, a feat that appeared to boost his standing across formats. However, his inability to translate that success into impactful T20 innings ultimately worked against him.
With the T20 World Cup now off the table, Gill is set to shift focus back to domestic cricket and will turn out for Punjab in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. For the 25-year-old, strong performances in the 50-over tournament could be crucial as he looks to force his way back into India's white-ball plans.
