India Triumphs in T20 World Cup 2026

India emerged victorious against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final, marking their third title in this format.

Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan were standout players, with Samson earning the Player of the Tournament accolade for his impressive three consecutive innings scoring over 80 runs in the knockout stages. There was speculation regarding their positions in the playing XI due to Shubman Gill's presence. The differing views of head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar significantly influenced the final squad selection for the tournament.

Shubman Gill served as the vice-captain of the T20I team from the Asia Cup 2025 until the World Cup, but his performance was underwhelming. Despite this, Gambhir advocated for Gill's inclusion in the squad, as reported by a leading news outlet. Conversely, Agarkar opposed Gill's selection, leading to his exclusion in favor of Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh. Agarkar stated, "Your opinion could differ from mine. We still think he's a quality player. Someone has to miss out, and it's him - not because he isn't good enough. Fortunately, Indian cricket has options."

Had Gill been part of the World Cup squad, it could have meant that Samson would have been sidelined once again, as Gill's role as an opener would have pushed Samson down the order.

Ajit Agarkar Advocates for Ishan Kishan's Inclusion

Ajit Agarkar was instrumental in ensuring Ishan Kishan's selection for the T20 World Cup 2026, despite Kishan's previous setbacks, including opting out of the South Africa tour in 2023 and missing domestic matches. Agarkar highlighted Kishan's strong domestic performance as a key reason for his inclusion. He remarked, "He bats at the top in white-ball cricket. He has been in good form. He has played before for India. He wasn't in the team because Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel were ahead of him - two very good players. Nothing else."