India's Shubman Gill plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Former India player Aakash Chopra on Saturday reacted to Shubman Gill’s omission from India’s T20 World Cup squad, saying that the former vice-captain’s exclusion was not just a call made on basis of recent form but it was about India going back to their previous ideology before the Asia Cup.
“Shubman Gill’s name isn’t in the team. Axak Patel is the vice-captain. The Shubman Gill experiment as a vice captain, as an opener started in the Asia Cup and it’s over before the end of the year. Massive news in regards to Gill. India were looking for a 3-format captain but he couldn’t solidify his place in one format. he missed out on the 2024 World Cup and he’s missed out again in 2026 This is not a good sign. His 2025 was pretty good but towards the end, it’s a shocking news that has come in,” Chopra said in a video on X.
🚨 Are you as shocked about Shubman Gill’s omission from the T20 World Cup squad? #Aakashvani pic.twitter.com/7mvQA53CTC
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 20, 2025
“Dropping Gill is not just a call made on the basis of his recent form…it’s about the change in ideology India adopted at the start of the Asia Cup. The thought was that in multi-nation tournaments you don’t need to score 200+ all the time…you need an anchor in big games. That thought robbed Sanju opportunities at the top and also, Yashasvi to be around the team,” he had earlier posted on X.
Dropping Gill is not just a call made on the basis of his recent form…it’s about the change in ideology India adopted at the start of the Asia Cup. The thought was that in multi-nation tournaments you don’t need to score 200+ all the time…you need an anchor in big games. That…
“Whoaaa…that’s s lot of changes so close to the World Cup. Jitesh wouldn’t know what he did wrong. Rinku is back to where he belongs. Why was he left out in the cold? Happy for Ishan—both keepers are like for like in the batting slot. Axar back as VC. The experiment with Gill put to bed,” he had posted in another tweet.
Whoaaa…that’s s lot of changes so close to the World Cup. Jitesh wouldn’t know what he did wrong 😑 Rinku is back to where he belongs. Why was he left out in the cold? Happy for Ishan—both keepers are like for like in the batting slot. Axar back as VC. The experiment with…
Gill, who was announced as the India vice-captain ahead to the Asia Cup in September, hasn’t had the best of times in the shortest format, scoring just 291 runs in his last 15 matches. In the recent South Africa series too, he could just notch up scores of 4, 0 and 28. He missed the 5th match on Friday which led to Sanju Samson grabbing the opportunity to play with both hands, scoring a quickfire 37 off 22, helping India get off to a strong start.