Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has admitted that he couldn’t believe that India had left out talented Shubman Gill from their squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC 20-over event will be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 9 onwards.

The 26-year-old, who rejoined the T20I team as vice-captain in September 2025 for the Asia Cup, was unable to light the stage on fire. In the 15 games he played, he did not even reach fifty, and his highest score was 47.

India's Test and ODI skipper was ultimately dropped by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee due to his poor form and subpar strike rate. Shubman Gill’s form and the fact that his inclusion in the India T20I XI came at the cost of Sanju Samson made matters worse.

Samson had scored three centuries in T20Is in 2024 as an opener and formed an explosive opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma, and when Shubman Gill returned to T20Is, Samson was first demoted to the middle order and then left out of the side completely.

Given that he had scored 754 runs against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, it was anticipated that Gill would score runs with ease in the T20I format. Nevertheless, the selectors had to pay the price for combining forms once more.

Ricky Ponting shared his reaction to the news of Shubman Gill being dropped from the India T20I squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 and the upcoming New Zealand T20I series.

“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,” Ponting said on ICC Review.

“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,” he added.

Gill only managed 291 runs in 15 T20Is in 2025 with a best score of 47. Against South Africa recently, Gill made 4, 0, and 28, and he then missed the last two T20I matches due to a toe injury. Samson replaced Gill as the opener for the fifth T20I and scored 37 runs off 22 balls.

Ponting believes that keeping a player like Gill out just serves to highlight India's talent pool, which makes them the favorites in every ICC competition.

“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,” said Ponting.

Shubman Gill will be seen in action for India as he leads the Men in Blue against New Zealand in the three-ODI series starting from January 11.