Watch: Gautam Gambhir avoids questions on Shubman Gill’s exclusion from India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad at Delhi airport

Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir remained silent amid strong media attention over Shubman Gill’s surprise exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad.

Gambhir arrived at Delhi airport shortly after the 15-member squad was announced. Reporters surrounded him and asked for his reaction to the decision. However, the former opening batter refused to answer any questions. He walked straight to his car and left without saying a word.

His silence drew attention, as chief selector Ajit Agarkar had taken a bold call by leaving out the 26-year-old vice-captain and Test and ODI captain from the squad.

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Gill Struggles Despite Asia Cup Return

Gill returned to T20Is during the Asia Cup, replacing Sanju Samson at the top of the order. However, he struggled for form, scoring 291 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 137.26 without a single fifty. His highest score was 47 against Pakistan.

Injuries made things worse. A toe injury ruled him out of the final T20I against South Africa. This gave Samson a chance, and he scored a quick 37 off 22 balls. With both Gill and Jitesh Sharma left out, Samson was confirmed as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma. Axar Patel was named the new T20I vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav.

Suryakumar Retains Spot Despite Poor Form

While Gill struggled, India captain Suryakumar Yadav’s form has been even worse. He scored just 218 runs in 19 innings this year at a strike rate of 123.2, marking his toughest phase since debuting internationally.

Despite poor form, Suryakumar kept his place. According to a PTI report, leadership played a key role in the decision. Captaincy gave Suryakumar more time, while Gill missed out because his game was seen as less impactful than Abhishek Sharma’s.

The report also warned that under head coach Gautam Gambhir, performance is crucial. “Anyone who knows Gambhir knows that winning is the only priority. Today it is Gill, tomorrow it could be Suryakumar,” it added.