Indian cricket has never lacked talent. What it occasionally lacks is predictability. And nothing exposes that contradiction better than Shubman Gill, India’s all-format poster boy, watching the 2026 T20 World Cup squad announcement from the outside.
The irony is this: after being recalled to the T20I team before the 2025 Asia Cup, Gill was given the vice-captaincy role in that series; however, he could not get a reserve position in the largest T20 event on the calendar. Jitesh Sharma, another of India’s last seven T20I players, is now similarly in limbo. The sum of it all was well captured by former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa: “Indian cricket is magnificent, yet ruthlessly unpredictable.” It may appear that this team has everything going for it on paper, but the emotional fallout is very real.
Form Over Reputation, Ruthlessly Applied
Gill’s T20 credentials have always lived in a strange middle ground, visually elegant, statistically underwhelming. Unlike Tests and ODIs, T20 cricket punishes hesitation. An average of 24.25 as an opener in the format is not just below par; it actively works against India’s current high-tempo philosophy.
The selectors, to their credit, didn’t blink. Vice-captaincy didn’t buy Gill insurance. Captaincy in other formats didn’t translate into T20 goodwill. India chose numbers, intent, and role clarity over long-term pedigree, a decision that feels cold but is logically consistent.
Jitesh Sharma and the Role-Based Squeeze
Jitesh Sharma’s omission is less about failure and more about logistical chess. At 32, he offered experience, explosiveness, and a proven finishing skillset. But India’s T20 blueprint now demands flexibility over specialization.
The management preferred a reserve wicketkeeper who could double as an opener, a role Jitesh doesn’t naturally fit. In isolation, the call makes sense. In context, it stings. Being dropped after seven consecutive appearances suggests not poor performance, but shifting selection priorities that players often discover too late.
Axar Patel’s Promotion Signals Tactical Clarity
Axar Patel is being allowed to take on the responsibility of deputy to Surya Kumar Yadav in T20I Cricket, which could show an emerging view from India as to what constitutes leadership in T20I Cricket. Axar has shown he can adapt (as a player to the speed of the shorter format and as a person to make quick tactical decisions during the game).
India is selecting a leader based on function rather than name recognition. With the ever increasing emphasis on matchups, rotation of bowlers, and micro strategies in the T20 format, India chose the new-age style vice captain in Axar over the top order player who is having trouble finding his rhythm.
Uthappa’s Warning Beyond the Scorecard
Robin Uthappa wasn’t questioning the squad’s strength; he openly called it “a solid side.” His concern was deeper. Eleventh-hour omissions, especially of senior or recently trusted players, send ripples through the dressing room.
The unspoken message? It is uncertain what your future will be. While competition will sharpen the edge of many of the players, excessive uncertainty may create a sense of insecurity. India has had the best bench strength for years in terms of cricket, but the game also has to have players who trust the path they are taking. When a player does not believe in their own path as being steady, even a player with incredible talent can question themselves about their performance.
Key Takeaway
India didn’t drop Gill and Jitesh for being bad; they dropped them for not fitting the moment.
FAQs
- What led to Shubman Gill’s exclusion from the 2026 T20 World Cup squad?
His modest T20I average and inability to cement a high-impact role as an opener worked against him.
- Why was Jitesh Sharma dropped despite recent appearances?
India prioritized a reserve wicketkeeper who could also open, reducing Jitesh’s role value.
- How strong is India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad overall?
Extremely strong India are defending champions and have won 16 of 19 T20Is this year.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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