India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement may have been framed around Shubman Gill's surprise exclusion, but the more revealing subplot centred on Suryakumar
Yadav - and how narrowly he appears to have held on to his place.
Gill's omission grabbed attention because of his stature as India's Test and ODI captain. However, the decision also exposed how little margin for error exists in India's T20 plans. Gill's recent returns in the shortest format failed to convince the selectors. In 15 T20I innings, he accumulated 291 runs at a strike rate slightly above 137 - figures that fell short in a format built around urgency and explosiveness.
Yet Gill wasn't alone in struggling. Suryakumar Yadav's numbers over the past year have been even more concerning. India's T20I captain has scored only 218 runs across 19 innings at a strike rate of 123.2, marking the leanest phase of his international career. Despite that, he remained part of the World Cup squad.
A PTI report suggests the deciding factor was leadership rather than performance.
"SKY, who by virtue of being the skipper, kept his place despite a horrific one-year run, while Gill suffered as his game didn't seem as impactful as Abhishek Sharma's," the report stated.
The implication is clear: captaincy offered Suryakumar temporary insulation, not unconditional backing. And even that safety net appears fragile.
The same report underlined the uncompromising environment under head coach Gautam Gambhir, where past achievements carry limited weight.
"Anyone who knows Gambhir knows that for him, 'winning is not everything but the only thing'. Today it was Gill, tomorrow it could be Suryakumar," the report added.
The selectors' broader message was reinforced by their continued trust in Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper-batter retained his place and immediately justified the call with a fluent 37 off 22 balls in the fifth T20I against South Africa, showcasing the kind of impact innings India is prioritising.
Taken together, the squad selection sends a stark signal. Leadership can delay tough calls, but it cannot erase them. In a team driven by results and momentum, even the captain is judged by output. For Suryakumar Yadav, the World Cup berth may represent an opportunity - but also a warning that runs, not roles, will ultimately decide his future in India's T20 setup.
