Ricky Ponting Reveals Surprise At India's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
While Iyer and Jaiswal have been out of the T20 squad for a long period, despite being two of the finest talents in world cricket, it was Gill's omission that left the cricketing world in shock. Although the 26-year-old did not enjoy a good run with the bat in T20Is post his return to the set-up in August, and was also named as Surykumar's deputy.
Ponting claimed he was surprised at seeing Gill not being picked, and further stated that it showed the quality of depth in Indian cricket.
"I couldn't believe that. I mean, I know his recent form hasn't been great in white-ball cricket. The last time that I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK, where he batted as well as I've ever seen anybody bat. I think, one, I'm surprised, but two, it just shows the depth of Indian cricket. If you can think that someone as good as Shubman Gill doesn't get picked in a World Cup squad, then it goes to show how many good players they do have,” said Ponting in an interaction with ICC Review.
“India's depth around the country, as we know, is outstanding and every ICC event that comes up, you've got to put them right up near the top just because there are so many good players to choose from,” Ponting added.
The two-time World Cup-winning Australian captain shares a close bond with Indian cricket as he is the head coach of the Shreyas-led Punjab Kings (PBKS). He previously coached the Delhi Capitals (DC) for seven seasons, having earlier been in charge of the Mumbai Indians (MI) for two years, including their 2015 title win.
On January 4, 2026, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting expressed his shock over the exclusion of Shubman Gill from India's 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
Despite being India’s current Test and ODI captain and the designated T20I vice-captain as recently as late 2025, the 26-year-old opener was dropped by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee following a prolonged slump in the shortest format.
Why Ricky Ponting is "Surprised"
Speaking on the ICC Review, Ponting admitted he found the decision hard to believe, citing Gill's pure talent as a reason why he should have been a lock for the squad.
"I couldn't believe that. I know his recent form hasn't been great in white-ball cricket... but if you can think that someone as good as Shubman Gill doesn't get picked in a World Cup squad, then it just shows the depth of Indian cricket." — Ricky Ponting
Why Shubman Gill was Dropped
The selection committee prioritized current form and "team combination" over Gill’s pedigree.
Lack of Performance: In his last 15 T20I innings since returning to the side in the 2025 Asia Cup, Gill failed to score a single half-century.
5 He managed just 291 runs at an average of 24.25.6 The Strike Rate Issue: His strike rate of 137.26 was deemed too slow compared to the explosive starts provided by Abhishek Sharma (SR 193+) and Sanju Samson.
7 Wicketkeeping Requirements: Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar noted that the team wanted two wicketkeepers who could also open, leading to the selection of Sanju Samson and the returning Ishan Kishan.
8
India’s Confirmed T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
The squad will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with Axar Patel named as the new vice-captain.
| Category | Players |
| Batters | Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh |
| All-rounders | Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Washington Sundar |
| Wicketkeepers | Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan |
| Bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy |
What's Next for Gill?
While Gill has been left out of the T20 World Cup plans, he remains central to India's other formats. He is set to lead the team in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11, 2026, in Vadodara.
Would you like me to look into the full schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026, or perhaps a detailed comparison of Gill’s T20 stats versus those of his replacement, Ishan Kishan?
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