Former India batter Robin Uthappa made a huge statement on opener Shubman Gill’s omission from India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026. Uthappa stated that T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has been going through a lean patch, played a role in Gill’s omission for the marquee tournament.
Suryakumar’s form has dipped over the last two seasons. In 2025, the 35-year-old scored 219 runs in 21 matches at an average of just 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16. However, the Men in Blue have won 16 of their 19 completed matches this calendar year. Notably, he averaged below 27 in 18 T20Is during the last year.
Suryakumar Yadav Is Not Making Runs – Robin Uthappa on Shubaman Gill Snub
Speaking during a live session on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa said that teams cannot afford to have multiple out-of-form players in ICC tournaments. Uthappa stated that with Suryakumar Yadav already enduring a lean run, the team management excluded Shubman Gill from the squad.
“With World Cup sides, you can carry up to one player who’s not in great form; you can’t carry more than that. That’s probably it (he’s been dropped because SKY is not making runs),” Uthappa said.
Shubman Gill served as India’s vice-captain during the Asia Cup 2025 and the subsequent T20I series. He scored only 32 runs during the recently concluded five-match home T20I series against South Africa. He missed the final match after picking up an injury.
I Am Not Saying Shubman Gill Deserved to Be There – Robin Uthappa
Uthappa said that Shubman Gill’s omission was understandable given his current struggles. He added that Gill did not look settled at the crease and struggled to handle quality bowling and disciplined spells.
“I am not saying he [Shubman Gill] deserved to be there, given his current form and the fact he’s not looking like he’s in good nick. You can see his eyes. When you look at him, it feels like there’s a lot of confusion, even when he’s batting. He’s getting some good deliveries. Lungi bowled really well through the series and troubled Shubman when he played,” Uthappa stated.
I Was Shocked – Robin Uthappa Reacts to Team India’s World Cup Squad
Robin Uthappa admitted he was surprised but pleased with the overall selection. He described the squad as strong and well-balanced for a title defence. Uthappa also added that selection should be judged by the clarity and fairness of the approach.
“I was shocked. I just came back home, and I was just spending time with the kids, and I was tired because I traveled late at night. I took a nap, and I woke up, saw my phone, and I was like, what? I was really happy. I think they picked a really solid side. But I think the way they’ve gone about it, and for me, it’s not dropping people; it’s about how you go about making these decisions,” Uthappa stated.
In 2025, Gill scored 291 runs from 15 T20I matches at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26. He was not the only omission, as wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma also missed out on selection. Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan returned to the India squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Also read: Shubman Gill’s domestic cricket grind begins after T20 World Cup snub; next move revealed
