Our Bureau
New Delhi
Shubman Gill, the “Prince” of Indian cricket and vice-captain in T20Is, has been stunningly dropped from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, marking head coach Gautam Gambhir’s firm stance against “star culture.” The announcement prioritizes aggressive powerplay hitters like Abhishek Sharma and a resurgent Ishan Kishan over Gill’s anchoring style, signaling performance trumps reputation. Gambhir’s philosophy demands high strike rates from ball one, exposing Gill’s vulnerabilities in high-pressure chases and recent T20I flops against South Africa (scores of 4, 0, 28).
Gambhir, vocal about ending “un-droppable” player privileges, favors “fearless” batsmen over technically flawless ones. Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh retain spots for their explosive intent, while Gill—Test and ODI captain—pays for inconsistent T20 adaptability on slower pitches. Critics once accused Gambhir of favoring Gill, but this axe proves accountability reigns, with a former selector noting it as a “course correction” influenced by the coach. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav loses his deputy, risking experience gaps despite retaining captaincy amid his own 2025 struggles (218 runs at 13 average).
The move clears paths for hungry talents but invites backlash if India falters, potentially straining dressing room dynamics and Gill-Gambhir ties. Gambhir previously lauded Gill’s leadership post-England heroics, yet T20 demands shifted priorities. Success could echo the 2007 T20 triumph as a cultural reset; failure invites scrutiny on selectors led by Agarkar. Fans and experts debate if ditching potential for proven aggression rebuilds a winning ethos.
