Shubman Gill, the captain of India's Test and ODI teams, has come under fire despite not participating in the recently held T20 World Cup 2026. The Indian team successfully defended their title, clinching a 96-run victory against New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8.

Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India made history by becoming the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title and securing their third championship in this prestigious tournament. Additionally, they achieved the remarkable feat of winning the T20 World Cup on home soil.

Gill's Controversial Social Media Post

Although Shubman Gill was not part of the victorious squad, he shared a celebratory photo of the team with the trophy on his social media accounts, including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), on March 9. However, the post drew criticism for excluding Sanju Samson, a key player in India's title defense.

In the image, while all other players were visible, Samson appeared to be cropped out or positioned awkwardly, leading to perceptions of his exclusion from the celebration.

Social Media Outrage

The omission of Sanju Samson from the winning squad's photo ignited a heated discussion on social media, particularly on X. Fans expressed their discontent, labeling Gill's actions as immature and incomplete without Samson, and accused him of jealousy.

Many users criticized Gill for editing Samson out of the picture, questioning his leadership qualities and highlighting Samson's significant contributions to the team.

Samson's Performance and Recognition

Sanju Samson was a standout performer in the T20 World Cup, emerging as India's highest run-scorer with 321 runs, including three half-centuries, at an impressive average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37 across five matches. His pivotal innings in the knockout stages, including a remarkable 97* against West Indies and two 89s in the semi-final and final, earned him the Player of the Tournament award.