BCCI informs Shubman Gill to focus on Test and ODI, confirms no place…

There are only a few stars who have not been named in the T20I squads for the upcoming series that Team India is going to take part in in the near future. Shubman Gill is among the few who could not retain his spot in the T20Is, despite a well-crafted Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) season.

Why did the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not name Shubman Gill in any of the T20I squads? The upcoming 2027 ICC ODI World Cup is considered one of the main reasons behind the decision.

Shubman Gill did well with the bat in IPL 2026

In the lead-up to the next ODI World Cup, Gill has been scoring runs at a constant pace. After enduring a lucrative IPL 2026 season, the batter has registered a century on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Afghanistan as well. chickenroadslot.pro

Gill is currently the captain of the Test and ODI set-ups of India. Ahead of the 2026 T20I World Cup, he was the vice-captain for the shortest format, which was subsequently revoked. The IPL 2026 was considered the ideal stage for Shubman Gill to prove his batting instincts in the Twenty20 format, as his strike rate was under the scanner.

The skipper of the Gujarat Titans (GT) did well with the bat, scoring 732 runs in 16 matches and as many innings for an average of 45.75 and an elevated strike rate of 163.02 to take the team into the final. While Shubman Gill’s average IPL strike rate is 142.08, he batted with a strike rate slightly over 163, which was evidence of his improved performance in the format.

Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel ignores Gill for the T20Is

Despite proving his credentials as a batter and as captain at the same time, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel did not pick him for any of the T20I squads they announced on Saturday.

BCCI announced the T20I squads for their bilateral series against Ireland, England, and for the Asian Games 2026. Shreyas Iyer has replaced T2I World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav as the new skipper and Tilak Varma as his deputy.

As reported, the national cricket team management is working to balance across the formats. They must build a solid core, a well-set team ahead of the ODI World Cup. To keep the focus, impact, and balance intact, they limited Shubman Gill to Tests and ODIs only.

Why is he not in the T20I teams?

According to the latest reports, the selection committee has asked Shubman to prioritize red-ball cricket and the One Day Internationals through the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle to manage the Workload and avoid any further trouble in the lead-up to the flagship tournament.

“The selectors are concerned that there shouldn't be a burn-out case with Gill. Gill has to lead India in nine WTC Tests and also play around 35 odd ODIs before the start of the 2027 World Cup. The communication is clear that he needs to be fit for these two ICC assignments. Plus, he will play the IPL where he leads the Gujarat Titans,” a source close to the team selection process told PTI.

Read More: Shubman Gill breaks major WTC record for India with stunning hundred vs Afghanistan

The first day of PUBG Mobile Global Open aka PMGO 2026 Season 1 Main Event Grand Finals, concluded yesterday, delivering a masterclass in aggressive survival gameplay. Sixteen of the world’s elite squads descended into Jakarta, but one team completely dominated the battlegrounds. As the competition heads into its final day, the pressure is at an all-time high. Check out the PMGO 2026 Season 1 Grand Finals Day 2 schedule below.

PMGO 2026 Season 1 Grand Finals Day 2 – Teams and Current Standings

Pakistan’s 4T had an astounding display, making the rest of the lobby lag behind them. Scoring a whopping 82 points, they bagged 3 WWCD (Winner Winner Chicken Dinners) out of the 6 games played. Their competitive approach earned them 47 points for eliminations and 35 points for placements. Check out the current standings after day 1 matches below.

• 4Thrives Esports (4T) – 82 points
• gOAT – 49 points
• FURIA Esports – 48 points
• Aurora Gaming – 47 points
• 721 Esports – 46 points
• ULFHEDNAR (ULF) – 42 points
• eArena (EA) – 37 points
• Geekay Esports (GEEK) – 36 points
• BOOM Esports – 31 points
• Horaa Esports – 31 points
• Gaming Stars – 27 points
• S2G Esports – 24 points
• Team Flash (FL) – 24 points
• TT Projects – 22 points
• Bigetron Esports (BTR) – 21 points
• PANDUM Esports (PNDM) – 10 points

PUBG Mobile Global Open 2026 Grand Finals Day 2 Schedule

• Match 1 – Rondo
• Match 2 – Erangel
• Match 3 – Erangel
• Match 4 – Erangel
• Match 5 – Miramar
• Match 6 – Miramar

ALSO READ –

• PUBG Mobile x BLUE LOCK Event: Unlock Isagi, Bachira Sets & Exclusive Cosmetics
• PUBG Mobile 4.4 Download Apk Links Are Now Available
• PUBG Mobile 4.4 Update: Hero’s Crown Themed Mode, Dinoground Themed Mode return, and More
• Is the PUBG Mobile Lite 0.28.0 Update Finally Coming?

The Smash Rule Takes Effect on PMGO 2026 Grand Finals Day 2

Given that there are 6 more matches left, Day 2 would bring the eagerly awaited format of Smash Rule, which would totally transform the champion selection process.

Here is exactly how the Smash Rule will work in PMGO 2026 Finals:

• Threshold: The Match Point Threshold is defined as the #1 team’s points at the end of Day 1 plus 10 points. As 4T ends day 1 with 82 points, the Match Point Threshold for Smash Rule is strictly set at 92 points.
• Win condition: The team needs to achieve the 92-point threshold first. Being qualified, they should win their subsequent match with the WWCD to become the champion right away.
• Backup: Should any qualifying team fail to score WWCD during all 6 left matches, the tournament proceeds to the normal overall point ranking.

The post PMGO 2026 Season 1 Grand Finals Day 2 – Teams, Schedule, Format, and More appeared first on Inside Sport India.

Three months after leading India to the T20 World Cup title, Suryakumar Yadav has lost both the captaincy and his place in India's T20I setup. The selectors insist the decision was driven by form and the need to look ahead to the next World Cup cycle. A deep dive into the numbers reveals why. From one of the greatest peaks in T20 history to declining returns, waning match-winning influence and rising competition from younger rivals, the data explains why India chose the future over the past.

Team India ended the day one at 368 runs for the loss of three wickets as Indian batters dominated against an inexperienced Afghanistan bowling attack.

KL Rahul smashed 11 boundaries as he scored 100 runs in 165 balls. The Indian opener was dismissed by Ziaur Rahman Sharifi shortly after reaching his century.

Indian captain Shubman Gill too dominated the Afghanistan bowling as he continued his impressive recent form. The Indian skipper scored an unbeaten 103 runs in 143 balls, including 11 fours and one six. Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten too, scoring 50 runs in 70 balls.

Earlier, Sai Sudarshan scored a brisk 81 runs in 104 balls before being caught behind by Saleem Safi. For Afghanistan, Mohammad Saleem Safi was the star bowler with two wickets to his name. Ziaur Rahman Sharifi took one wicket of KL Rahul as the Afghanistan bowlers struggled to make an impact.

Earlier, after winning the toss, Shubman Gill said he would like to bat first. The skipper confirmed a debut for spinner Manav Suthar.

"We`re going to bat first. Very hot and humid here, so I think as the time goes by, the wicket is going to get slower and it`s going to get low. Looks like a good surface. I think a little bit drier, obviously because of the heat. It`s been very hot for the past few weeks here and I think it`s going to stay the same. The preparation`s been pretty good. Honestly, the only thing that`s been a little tricky is the switch from sleeping late at nights to waking up at the time actually that we were sleeping at. But got a good couple of days of sleep and I think everyone`s pretty fresh and ready to go. We`ve got Manav Suthar making his debut for the first time." Shubman Gill said.

Confirmed playing XI for both teams:

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Afsar Zazai(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem Safi

India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Though India batter Shreyas Iyer was not part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad last March, the Mumbai batter has been rewarded for his consistency, both as a batter and leader, when chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee named him as India’s new T20I captain on Saturday.

Iyer, 31, has represented India in 14 Tests, 76 ODIs, and 51 T20Is, scoring 811, 2977, and 1104 runs respectively. He will now lead India on the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, and at the Asian Games.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addresses the media at the BCCI headquarters at Wankhede on Saturday. Pic/Ashish Raje

“We have seen what he [Shreyas] has done over the last few years, leading different [IPL] franchises. He won the [IPL] final once [for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024]. We have seen everything that a captain possibly can [handle]. His own performances have been really good,” Agarkar said during the post-selection press conference at the BCCI headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

Agarkar reckoned that Iyer, who last played a T20I for India in December 2023, missed out on the T20 World Cup because of Suryakumar Yadav’s presence in the middle order. “He [Iyer] was quite close to getting into the [T20] World Cup squad. With Surya still there, there was no room for him,” Agarkar said.

Suryakumar Yadav

Explaining how Suryakumar lost his captaincy and place in the team, Agarkar, a former India pacer, said: “Obviously it’s a tough one having just won the T20 World Cup, but as it happens after most World Cups, we try and reassess what’s the best way forward. [It was due to] partly his [Suryakumar] own form, but also looking at the next two-year cycle, or a little more than two years now till the next World Cup, we thought this was the best way forward, and like I said, Shreyas is a very deserving captain.”

Agarkar admitted that Suryakumar was discussed in detail by the selectors.

“We deliberated on [Suryakumar] a lot, especially when someone has led you to a World Cup win. It’s not the easiest sort of discussion to have, but I don’t necessarily think... at some stage, we were going to look at it. Now, whether IPL form dictated it, I’m not so sure. There were always conversations around it,” he added.

The selectors rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the Ireland and England T20I series. However, the ace pacer will return for the Asian Games, which will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.

80.76
Suryakumar Yadav’s winning percentage as T20I skipper — the highest among Indian captains; India won 42 and lost 10 of out 52 matches under his leadership

One
Shreyas Iyer is the only captain to have guided three IPL franchises to the final

Squad for Ireland and England T20Is
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Asian Games squad
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Jaiswal replaces injured Kohli

Star batter Virat Kohli will miss India’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan later this month after failing to recover from a hamstring injury, and the selectors on Saturday named Yashasvi Jaiswal as his replacement.

Kohli, who plays only one format after retiring from Test and T20I, had suffered a hamstring injury during the recent IPL final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.