Shubman Gill did not get a place in the T20 World Cup team
Sports Desk, New Delhi. BCCI's Senior Selection Committee announced the team for T20 World Cup-2026 in Mumbai on Saturday. Just a few hours before this announcement, Shubhamam Gill was with the team in Ahmedabad where India had won the five-match series by defeating South Africa in the last T20 match. A few hours later, Gill was dropped from the T20 team even though he was the vice-captain.
He did not play in the last match against South Africa because he was injured. The Times of India report had already stated that Gill's injury is not very serious, but the team management does not want to take any risk with him. The team management had also thought of feeding Gill by giving him an injection, but in view of the New Zealand series, this decision was not taken.
Gill was sitting outside but no one had thought about what was going to happen after this decision. The Times of India in its report quoted a source as saying, "Shubman Gill could have played because the injury was minor. There was no fracture of any kind, but the decision not to play him was taken as a precautionary measure."
There was discussion in the think tank
Earlier, when Team India reached Lucknow for the fourth match, there was a discussion about playing Sanju Samson in the team's think-tank. Gill's injury in the nets also gave him this opportunity. The match could not be held in Lucknow due to bad weather, but Sanju got a chance in Ahmedabad. Sanju scored 37 runs in 22 balls and along with Abhishek Sharma made a partnership of 63 runs for the first wicket.
This innings of Sanju was enough to oust Gill not only from the playing-11 but also from the team. Gill was not in form anyway and Sanju was sitting outside despite being informed.
Sanju showed his magic
Gill was not playing T20 for a long time. He was also in the T20 World Cup-2024 team as a reserve player and had returned to India midway through the tournament as the team had released him. In September this year, when the team was announced for the Asia Cup, he returned and that too as vice-captain. This surprised everyone. Now when Gill came, he opened and Sanju had to go to the middle order which was not even his place. Here Sanju could not make an impact and his place in the playing-11 was taken by Jitesh Sharma.
When Sanju opened in Ahmedabad, the team management realized that Sanju was the right choice for the opening. If Sanju opens, then they will also have the option of bringing a finisher like Rinku Singh into the team and in-form Ishan Kishan can be a good option for backup opener-wicketkeeper.
Also read- Suryakumar Yadav will command the Indian team in T20 world cup 2026, celebration in Hathora village of Ghazipur.
Also read- BCCI made special plan for 15 players playing T20 World Cup