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Shubman Gill of India plays a shot during the 3rd T20I match between India and South Africa, held at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala, India, on December 14, 2025. (CREIMAS for BCCI)
With vice-captain Shubman Gill being dropped from the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, it has meant the Indian Test and ODI captain missed out from the T20 World Cup for the second time in succession since he came into the Indian T20 team. With the Indian selectors showing faith in Sanju Samson as an opener in the team announced on Saturday, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that this feedback to drop Subhuman would have come from the Indian team management too with Indian changing their style of play in the power play with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson personifying that pattern of play.
“Obviously, Shubman Gill had been given a lot of backing. The selectors showed a lot of faith because he was directly appointed vice-captain. Right now, it has become very very clear as to what looks like a very very good combination. I believe the feedback should also have come from Indian team management because we have to remember that India changed their style of play inside the powerplay. Rohit (Sharma) had shown it in the last World Cup. And that’s the style they wanted to continue. And Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma personify that particular passage and pattern of play,” Ashwin said on his Youtube channel Ash ki Baat.
While Gill was injured prior to the fourth T20I against South Africa, the Punjab batsman had not scored a half-century in his last 15 T20I innings. Gill had scored a total of 291 runs at strike rate of 137.26 this year with his highest score being 47 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup earlier this year. Gill also missed the last T20I at Ahmedabad against South Africa with Sanju Samson playing a knock of 37 runs off 22 runs during India’s 30-run win in the match. When asked whether that knock by Sanju played a role in his inclusion, Ashwin shared that he sees that knock as just a formality that Samson would be named in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. “Actually, this is irrelevant. I have said before that the combination and formula will change. And that’s what has happened. I am not surprised. Because I think the way it was going and we also talked that you should give the next two T20s if he is available. Unfortunately, Shubman got injured and the way he got injured and Sanju came into the side, it was only a formality that this was going to happen,” Ashwin added.
Ishan Kishan was named as a reserve wicket-keeper in the Indian team with power hitter Rinku Singh too making the T20 World Cup squad. Ashwin shared that he was surprised about Singh’s inclusion but sees Kishan’s inclusion as a motivation for first class cricketers and a great news for Indian cricket. “I was surprised that Rinku Singh got the opportunity. And in comes Ishan Kishan. And this is big news for many players who play in the First Class circuit. That we have to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. And which is again bringing you back to the factor that some of the bigger players are playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. So the selectors are giving you the message loud and clear. Whichever player you are, whether you are a big player or a small player or whether you are a new player, you perform in First Class cricket and we have our eyes on you. Of course Ishan Kishan has the pedigree, the way he made the double hundred in ODI cricket. This is great news for Indian cricket,” Ashwin said.
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