The announcement of India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, with the exclusion of star opener and vice-captain Shubman Gill headlining the major surprises. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has now voiced his reaction, stating that the omissions point to a 'little bit of clarity lacking' in the selection process.
Shock Omissions Dominate Squad Announcement
The most significant talking point from the selection committee's reveal was the axing of Shubman Gill. Despite being appointed the Test and ODI captain and returning to the T20I setup as vice-captain ahead of the Asia Cup in September, Gill's recent form with the bat in the shortest format cost him his place. His departure from the squad led to all-rounder Axar Patel being reinstated as vice-captain under skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
Another notable absentee was wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma. The selectors opted for Ishan Kishan as the second wicket-keeper, and the inclusion of the hard-hitting Rinku Singh further crowded the middle order, leaving no room for Jitesh despite his solid performances in the recent series against South Africa.
Dinesh Karthik's Candid Reaction
Reacting to the squad on social media, Dinesh Karthik expressed his astonishment at the two exclusions. 'The big news of the day: India World Cup T20 squad is announced and guess what? Shubman Gill, the current vice captain of the T20 team, incumbent opener has been dropped. Not just from the XI but from the squad,' Karthik said in an Instagram video.
He elaborated on the surprising nature of the decisions, highlighting the long-standing backing Gill had received. 'I didn’t see it coming. Just tells you there’s a little bit of clarity lacking. They have backed Shubman Gill for so long and come the day they pick the squad, they have let him go,' Karthik added, also expressing sympathy for Jitesh Sharma.
Assessing India's World Cup Chances
Despite the surprise omissions, Karthik was full of praise for the overall strength of the 15-member squad heading to the global tournament. He pointed out the world-class talent available across departments.
'India looks a strong squad on paper no matter what names you add there, this team is a solid team. Across every skillset, they have the best in the world,' he stated, naming players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya as key pillars.
However, he also identified a couple of vulnerabilities. 'For the first time ever in a T20 World Cup, they will have no experience of the greatest two that’s probably ever played in Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli in a World Cup team,' Karthik noted. The second concern he raised was regarding the form of captain Suryakumar Yadav, though he backed the star batter to regain his touch.
India's T20 World Cup 2026 Fixtures
The Indian team will begin its campaign in the tournament on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Their group stage schedule is as follows:
- February 7: vs USA, Mumbai
- February 12: vs Namibia, Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium)
- February 15: vs Pakistan, Colombo (R. Premadasa Stadium)
- February 18: vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)
The marquee clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo on February 15 is poised to be the highlight of the group phase for the Men in Blue.
