‘Respect the Call’: Shubman Gill Responds to T20 World Cup Snub Quote-led

India ODI captain Shubman Gill has reacted to his omission from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, saying he respects the selectors’ decision and has accepted the call.

Gill, who served as vice-captain of the T20I side after Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, was not named in the 15-member squad for the global tournament. Speaking at a press conference ahead of India’s ODI series against New Zealand, Gill said his focus remains on contributing to the team whenever called upon.

“I believe that in life, I am where I am supposed to be. Whatever is written in my destiny will happen. As a player, I want to win matches for my team. Having said that, I respect the selectors’ decision. I wish the T20 team the very best and hope they win the World Cup,” Gill said.

Gill’s T20I Stint

Gill’s role in India’s T20I setup came under scrutiny after his inclusion ahead of last year’s Asia Cup. The team management backed him as a stabilising opener in an otherwise aggressive batting line-up under Gambhir. He replaced Sanju Samson at the top of the order and opened with Abhishek Sharma.

The move, however, did not produce the desired impact, with India struggling to maintain their attacking tempo. The selectors eventually reverted to Samson as opener ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Gill reportedly learned about his omission while travelling with the team ahead of the final T20I against South Africa. In that match, Samson and Abhishek provided a rapid start, helping India cross the 200-run mark—the only instance in the series.

Focus on New Zealand Series

Samson and Abhishek Sharma will again be in focus during the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which follows the ODI leg. India will look to settle into the combination that brought consistent success between 2024 and 2025.

The T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7.

India’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.