After Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma were omitted from India's squad for T20 World Cup 2026, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik called it "shocking", adding, "There's a little bit of clarity lacking." He added, "They've backed Gill for so long and come the day...they pick the squad, they've let him go." Karthik remarked that India's World Cup squad looks strong.