Devdutt Padikkal To Shubman Gill- Deserving IPL Stars Ignored By BCCI For Ireland, England T20Is

Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal [Source: AFP]

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 16-member squad on Saturday for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, along with the Asian Games 2026. 

As expected, the selection committee introduced several major changes. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as India’s new T20I captain, while Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain. 

Meanwhile, teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden call-up after an extraordinary IPL 2026 campaign.

India T20I Squad vs Ireland and England: 

Shreyas Iyer (C), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.

Although several deserving players found a place in the squad, a number of standout performers from IPL 2026 were left out. Interestingly, three of those players were key members of the IPL-winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side. 

Here is a look at some of the most deserving stars who missed out on India’s T20I squad.

Deserving IPL Stars Who Missed Out From India T20I Squad

Rajat Patidar

Few players enhanced their reputation during IPL 2026 as much as Rajat Patidar. The RCB skipper once again proved his worth as a dependable match-winner, thriving under pressure and delivering when his team needed him the most.

Notably, Patidar accumulated 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 while maintaining a stunning strike rate of 192.69. 

Furthermore, he showcased his ability to perform on the biggest stage with a breathtaking unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2.

(Rajat Patidar's Indian Premier League 2026 stats)

It is important to note that his performances showed his maturity and attacking intent. Nevertheless, the presence of established middle-order options such as Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar appears to have worked against him.

As a result, one of the most deserving candidates for a T20I return found himself outside the final T20I squad.

Devdutt Padikkal

Another RCB star who missed out is Devdutt Padikkal. Notably, the Karnataka batter entered IPL 2026 following an exceptional domestic season and carried that form into the tournament.

In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, Padikkal scored 725 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 98.24. Subsequently, he impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, scoring 309 runs in six innings at an average of 61.08 and a strike rate of 167.03.

(Devdutt Padikkal's Indian Premier League 2026 stats)

His excellent form continued in IPL 2026, where he amassed 464 runs in 15 innings with a strike rate of 168.73. In addition, he played an important role at number three, providing stability as well as aggression whenever required.

Having already represented India in T20Is, Padikkal appeared to be a strong contender for selection. However, despite delivering consistently across domestic and IPL, the 28-year-old was unable to secure a place in the squad.

Consequently, his wait for another international opportunity continues.

Also Read: Sai Sudharsan On A Dwindling Seesaw: How Long Can Devdutt Padikkal Be Parked In The Garage?

Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan has been one of the most consistent young batters in the IPL over the last two seasons. The Gujarat Titans opener has established himself as a reliable run machine and continues to impress with his temperament and shot-making ability.

In IPL 2025, Sudharsan won the Orange Cap after scoring 759 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 156.17. Thereafter, he carried his remarkable form into IPL 2026 and scored another 722 runs in 17 innings, finishing as the third-highest run scorer of the season.

(Sai Sudharsan's Indian Premier League 2026 stats)

It is important to note that he received his maiden T20I call-up in July 2024 as a replacement player for the series against Zimbabwe. Even so, he did not get an opportunity to showcase his abilities at the international level.

This time, the competition for opening spots was extremely intense. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma retained their positions, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned selection following his sensational campaign.

Therefore, despite another outstanding IPL season, Sudharsan narrowly missed out on a place in the India’s T20I squad for Ireland and England.

Shubman Gill

Perhaps the most surprising omission from the squad is Shubman Gill. The Gujarat Titans captain enjoyed a phenomenal IPL 2026 season and responded brilliantly after facing criticism earlier in the year.

Following his omission from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, Gill allowed his performances to speak for themselves.

Notably, Gill scored 732 runs in 16 innings at an average of 45.73 and a strike rate of 163.03. At the same time, he successfully led Gujarat Titans to the IPL final, showcasing strong leadership qualities throughout the tournament.

(Shubman Gill's Indian Premier League 2026 stats)

Additionally, Gill has represented India in 36 T20Is and scored 869 runs at a strike rate of 138.59. Even so, his struggles during the recent South Africa series attracted criticism, with only 32 runs coming from three innings.

The selectors eventually decided to move in a different direction. Having said that, India’s opening department remains crowded with in-form options such as Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Consequently, Shubman Gill’s impressive IPL season was not enough to earn a recall.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar once again proved that experience remains invaluable in T20 cricket. Despite being away from the Indian T20I setup for several years, he continued to deliver exceptional performances at both domestic and franchise levels.

In IPL 2025, Bhuvneshwar claimed 17 wickets in 14 innings and played an important role in his team’s title-winning campaign. Thereafter, he elevated his performances further during IPL 2026.

(Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Indian Premier League 2026 stats)

The experienced pacer picked up 28 wickets in 16 innings while maintaining an impressive economy rate of 7.95. Moreover, his ability to execute yorkers and powerplay spells made him one of the most effective bowlers of the tournament.

His contributions were instrumental in RCB securing another IPL title. In addition, he remained productive in domestic cricket, taking eight wickets in SMAT 2025 and 14 wickets in 10 matches during the UP T20 League 2025.

Even so, the selectors chose to invest in younger pace options. As a result, Bhuvneshwar's long-awaited return to India's T20I setup remains on hold.

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