Former Indian cricket team all-rounder Yuvraj Singh gave his honest verdict on Shubman Gill not getting selected for the T20 World Cup 2026 despite being the captain in Tests and ODIs. Gill was excluded from the squad, with Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma getting selected as the openers. While Gill performed well in red-ball cricket, his performances in white-ball cricket were not as good, and the team management decided to go with a wicketkeeper-batter who can bat at the top of the innings instead of the star batter. Yuvraj said that it is extremely difficult for any batter to perform consistently in all three formats and pointed out that it is a “tough call” to exclude someone who has played in T20Is for India for the entire year.
“To perform consistently in all three formats is very difficult and also to remain as captain.”
“Virat Kohli is the only player in the last generation who has performed consistently in all three formats and has also been a successful captain. In between, we had Rohit Sharma also. But I feel if you have put someone in the T20I team and he has played in that format the entire year and then in the last moment, he doesn’t make the team because of performances, then that’s a tough call”, Yuvraj said in conversation with Sports Tak.
Yuvraj also called for greater clarity over the futures of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the team begins shaping its plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Both Rohit and Kohli have stepped away from Test and T20I, but the veteran duo remain integral to India’s 50-over setup. However, their long-term roles continue to be a subject of discussion amid an ongoing transition phase in the national side.
Speaking to Sports Tak, Yuvraj emphasised that while the two stalwarts appear keen to feature in the next World Cup, the final call will depend on a collective decision involving the players and selectors.
“I don’t know what is going on in their minds. They look committed to playing the World Cup, but I think that decision lies with them and the selectors, who will have to decide the future,” Yuvraj said.
The 2011 World Cup hero also highlighted the importance of transparent communication between the team management and the players.
“My point is that they are such great players, there has to be clarity. You should be able to sit in a room and discuss things openly. It is difficult, especially at that stage of your career,” Yuvraj added.
He further pointed out that while such conversations may be uncomfortable, they are necessary for both the players and the team’s future planning.
“You may not like hearing that the team is looking ahead, but a year later, you will appreciate that at least someone told you the truth to your face. That does not really happen in Indian cricket,” Yuvraj said.
(With agency inputs)