India, Dec. 22 -- On Saturday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia's announcement of India's T20 World Cup squad turned heads as Shubman Gill, touted as the next all-format leader, was shockingly omitted from the 15-member list. Sanju Samson was reinstated as the opener, while fellow wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, fresh off a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final last week, was named the back-up.

The decision instantly shifted focus away from the rest of the squad, and even largely from captain Suryakumar Yadav, who, like Gill, has struggled with form in T20Is. Much of the press conference centred on the omission, especially with the BCCI having dropped strong hints over the last few months that the 25-year-old was being groomed to take ove...