Gambhir’s India Faces Crisis as Gill’s T20 World Cup Axing Triggers Dressing Room Unease

The Indian cricket dressing room is experiencing unprecedented turmoil just weeks before the global T20 tournament begins in February. Shubman Gill’s stunning exclusion from the squad has sent shockwaves through the team, exposing deep-seated concerns about clarity, security, and direction under head coach Gautam Gambhir. What looked like a carefully planned succession strategy has collapsed spectacularly, leaving players wondering who’s next on the chopping block.

The BCCI’s decision to shelve their “Project Shubman Gill” represents more than just a selection surprise. It signals a fundamental shift in philosophy that has players questioning everything they thought they knew about their roles and futures. When even India’s designated next-generation leader can be dropped after being given apparent assurances, nobody feels safe anymore.

The Rise and Sudden Fall of Project Gill

Gill’s journey back into T20I cricket began in September 2025 with all the fanfare of a returning hero. Despite not playing the format for over a year and missing the 2024 T20 World Cup squad entirely, he was reinstated as vice-captain. The message seemed clear: Gill was being groomed as India’s future all-format captain, following his appointments as ODI and Test skipper.

His return came at a cost. Sanju Samson, who had been in explosive form and finally seemed to have cemented his place, suddenly found himself battling for spots again. The management’s preference was obvious. Gill received what sources described as a “free run” and “assurances” about his place in the lineup, essentially guaranteeing him game time regardless of immediate returns.

Gill’s T20I Numbers During His Comeback (Sept-Dec 2025)

The numbers tell a brutal story. Not a single fifty in 15 innings. An average barely scraping 20. For a player positioned as India’s future batting linchpin, these statistics represented a crisis that selectors could no longer ignore. The final straw came during the South Africa home series where Gill managed just 4, 0, and 28 in the first three matches.

Gambhir’s Fingerprints All Over the Decision

According to a PTI report, Gill’s axing “had Gambhir’s footprints written all over it.” This detail matters enormously because it suggests the coach personally drove the decision to reverse course on a player the establishment had heavily invested in. The abruptness of the turnaround, coming after months of guaranteed selection, has created an atmosphere where players no longer trust what they’re told about their roles.

One anonymous player reportedly stated that the dressing room now feels like a “confused arena with a lot of players not exactly feeling secure.” This represents a dramatic departure from the Rahul Dravid era, where clear role definitions and long ropes allowed players to perform without constantly looking over their shoulders.

The contrast with Dravid’s three-year tenure couldn’t be starker. Under Dravid, players knew where they stood. Roles were defined, communicated clearly, and honored consistently. If you were told you’d get five matches to prove yourself, you got five matches. That predictability created confidence, allowing players to express themselves freely without fear of instant axing.

The Psychological Impact on Team India

The PTI report’s most damning revelation suggests players now believe “if Indian cricket’s next poster boy could be dumped by the wayside, the next omission number could have anyone’s name written on it.” This mindset is poison for team confidence heading into a major tournament.

Cricket at the highest level demands mental clarity and freedom from fear. When players spend energy worrying about selection rather than focusing on opposition bowling attacks, performance inevitably suffers. The February-March tournament requires India to be firing on all cylinders mentally and tactically. A fractured, uncertain dressing room threatens those ambitions.

Comparing Coaching Regimes

The comparison isn’t meant to diminish Gambhir’s credentials or achievements. He brought intensity and won important tournaments, including the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup this year. But the coaching approach appears fundamentally different, prioritizing immediate results over long-term player development and security.

Samson’s Vindication and India’s Selection Philosophy

Sanju Samson’s return to the squad represents both vindication and validation. The wicketkeeper-batter had been in scintillating form before Gill’s comeback pushed him aside. His explosive centuries in ODIs and consistent T20I performances made his demotion puzzling to fans and experts alike.

Now restored to his natural position at the top of the order, Samson gets another chance to prove what many already believed: he should never have lost his spot in the first place. His inclusion for the upcoming mega event suggests selectors have reverted to their pre-Gill strategy of backing in-form players over potential future captains.

This philosophical shift raises uncomfortable questions. If Gill was always the plan, why pull the plug so quickly? If form matters most, why give him 15 guaranteed matches in the first place? The inconsistency breeds exactly the kind of uncertainty now plaguing the dressing room.

Gambhir’s Job Security Under Scrutiny

The report explicitly states that the BCCI will have enough time to make informed decisions about coaching structure if India fails to meet expectations at the tournament. Translation: Gambhir’s position is not secure, and his future depends heavily on results over the next two months.

This adds another layer of pressure to an already tense situation. A coach fighting for his own job security naturally makes more conservative, risk-averse decisions. That might explain the sudden Gill axing when poor form became impossible to ignore. It might also explain why players feel their positions are constantly under threat.

India’s recent Test cricket struggles have amplified scrutiny. Two whitewashes on home soil, once considered fortress venues, have damaged Gambhir’s credibility in red-ball cricket. White-ball successes in the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup bought him time, but another tournament disappointment could trigger the split-coaching scenario many have advocated for.

The Format Specialist Debate Intensifies

Gill’s exclusion essentially confirms what many suspected: India is moving toward format specialists rather than all-format players for T20 cricket. The days of automatic selection across formats based on reputation alone appear to be ending, at least in the shortest format where specific skills matter most.

This evolution makes strategic sense. T20 cricket’s unique demands—strike rotation, boundary hitting, death bowling—require specialized skills that don’t always translate from Test or ODI success. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s T20I retirements after the 2024 World Cup victory already signaled this shift. Gill’s axing confirms the philosophy extends beyond veteran transitions.

However, the execution matters as much as the philosophy. If India plans to use format specialists, that decision needs clear communication from day one. Bringing Gill back with apparent assurances, then dropping him four months later, suggests either poor planning or panicked course correction. Neither scenario inspires confidence in the decision-making process.

What This Means for India’s Tournament Chances

Team chemistry and dressing room harmony directly impact tournament performance. History shows that fractured teams rarely win major trophies, regardless of individual talent levels. India’s squad possesses enormous skill, but if players are spending mental energy worrying about their positions rather than focusing on opponents, that advantage diminishes rapidly.

The tournament takes place across India and Sri Lanka, where India traditionally dominates. Home advantage should provide confidence, but internal turmoil can neutralize external advantages. Pakistan in 1992, Sri Lanka in 1996, and India in 2011 all won World Cups partly because of unified, confident dressing rooms. The current uncertainty threatens to undermine India’s title credentials.

Gambhir needs to quickly restore clarity and confidence. That means honest conversations about roles, transparent selection criteria, and sticking to communicated plans barring dramatic form collapses. The Gill situation demonstrated what not to do. The next six weeks offer a chance to rebuild trust and unity before the tournament begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Shubman Gill dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad?
Gill managed just 291 runs in 15 T20I innings without a single fifty after his September 2025 return. His poor form, especially scores of 4, 0, and 28 against South Africa, forced selectors to reverse their decision despite earlier assurances.

How does the Indian dressing room feel under Gautam Gambhir?
According to reports, players feel the dressing room is “confused” with “a lot of players not exactly feeling secure,” contrasting sharply with the clarity and security they experienced under Rahul Dravid’s coaching.

Is Gautam Gambhir’s coaching job in danger?
Yes, reports suggest the BCCI will evaluate India’s performance at the T20 World Cup and potentially consider split coaching or format-specific coaches if results disappoint. Recent Test cricket struggles have increased pressure.

Who replaced Shubman Gill in the T20 World Cup squad?
Sanju Samson has been restored to his top-order position, the role he occupied before Gill’s September comeback. Samson had been in excellent form before losing his secure spot.

When does the T20 World Cup 2026 begin?
The tournament is scheduled to begin in six weeks from late December 2025, with matches taking place across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 through early March 2026.

What is Project Shubman Gill?
It was the BCCI’s plan to develop Gill as India’s next all-format captain and leader. He was made ODI and Test captain while being reinstated as T20I vice-captain, but the project has now been shelved following his World Cup exclusion.

The next six weeks will determine whether Gambhir can restore dressing room harmony and lead India to glory, or whether the current uncertainty will derail what should be a dominant home tournament. For players caught in the crossfire, the message is clear: form matters more than assurances, and nobody’s position is truly secure anymore. That reality might drive excellence through competition, or it might fracture team unity at cricket’s worst possible moment.