Did not anticipate they’d drop Shubman Gill

Former opener Kris Srikkanth has admitted that he was shocked with Shubman Gill’s omission from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. He, nevertheless, lauded the selectors’ determination, terming it the right one.

The BCCI selectors named a 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup to be performed in India and Sri Lanka on Saturday, December 20. Ajit Agarkar and co. sprung a shock by dropping out-of-form Gill and recalling keeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who lately led Jharkhand to victory within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Talking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth stated that he was pleasantly shocked by the selectors’ daring transfer. He commented:

“I’m very shocked. It is a excellent choice. I did not anticipate they’d drop Shubman Gill. That they had made him the vice-captain. He went to Australia as effectively in that capability. Nicely performed Ajit Agarkar and selectors.”

Gill was appointed vice-captain of the T20I squad following his heroics with the bat within the Take a look at sequence in England. Nevertheless, he didn’t make any type of affect with the willow within the alternatives he obtained. In 15 T20I innings in 2025, the 26-year-old has scored simply 291 runs at a median of 24.25 and a strike charge of 137.26.

“In need of a bit little bit of runs” – Ajit Agarkar explains Shubman Gill’s omission

The choice to drop Gill from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad has come as a shock to many as he was being touted because the staff’s subsequent all-format skipper. Nevertheless, the selectors and staff administration, maybe, didn’t need to threat taking an out-of-form opener to the ICC occasion, contemplating that skipper Suryakumar Yadav can be quick on runs.

“We all know what a high quality participant he’s, however, maybe wanting a bit little bit of runs for the time being. It’s unlucky to have missed out within the final World Cup as effectively as a result of we went with totally different combos. However it’s the combos greater than the rest…Somebody has to overlook out whenever you decide 15 and sadly, it is Gill at this level,” Agarkar stated, whereas explaining the batter’s axing to the media.

Gill was dominated out of the fifth T20I in opposition to South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday resulting from a toe damage. In his absence, Sanju Samson opened the innings and scored a quick-fire 37 off 22 as India received the competition by 30 runs to seal the sequence 3-1.