Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has come out in strong support of Shubman Gill following the Indian batter’s surprising omission from India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. His omission sparked discussions, particularly given Gill’s elevated role in the Indian team.
Gill, who currently serves as India’s captain in both Tests and ODIs, was not included in the squad for the home T20 World Cup following a dip in form in recent assignments. He was also excluded from the preceding T20I series against New Zealand.
"It’s not a signal to Gill. He wasn't really taking his place for granted. The competition is so much, and they’ve got too many players in the present scenario who can fill that slot and can do well for the team. This is not the end of the road for Gill. He’s a great, great player with beautiful technique, and he will make a brilliant comeback, and not to forget, he’s still the Test captain for India," Harbhajan said while speaking to reporters during an event.
Harbhajan emphasised that the management selected the squad keeping in mind the combinations. Moreover, he asserted that Gill remains one of the most technically sound batters and possesses the temperament
"When I was listening to Ajit (Agarkar) and Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), they were saying that they were looking at which combination fits where for this format. So, I think given those conditions and that combination, with that kind of respect, the team has been selected in that way. So Gill is a class player, there is no doubt about it, and he’ll make a great comeback," he added.