KL Rahul back in T20 World Cup 2026 reckoning; Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad re-enter picture

Team India vice-captain Shubman Gill will miss the fifth and final T20I against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19. With Gill unavailable, the team management may focus on reshuffling the top order and testing bench strength ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.

According to a Times of India report, Gill suffered a toe injury during a net session in Lucknow ahead of the fourth T20I. The right-handed batter was in pain and unable to walk properly. The injury forced him out of the last match and has now also ruled him out of the fifth and final T20I of the ongoing home series.

Shubman Gill’s Toe Injury Forces India to Rethink Their Plans

Shubman Gill’s toe injury has forced India to rethink their plans. With Gill unavailable, the team management and selectors will test their batting options, starting with the final T20I against South Africa and the New Zealand series next month.

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"Sources indicate that the selection committee, along with the team management, wants to leverage this enforced absence to firm up the batting combination," the report read.

The team management wants to treat every upcoming T20I as a trial run ahead of the T20 World Cup. Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to gain the most from Gill’s absence. The left-hander has been waiting for an opportunity, and his attacking style in the powerplay is seen as a strong fit for India’s T20 plans.

"One selector, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the upcoming New Zealand T20Is demand a proactive approach, adding that every available game before Feb 2026 should effectively be treated as an extended trial," the report added.

India Consider KL Rahul as the Team Management Explores Combinations

The team management is also looking at a few different options in the batting order. Sanju Samson is one of the names under serious discussion. The selectors like his ability to score quickly at the start of the innings, especially during the powerplay on batting-friendly Indian pitches.

Samson has opened before in T20Is alongside Abhishek Sharma. The pair played with an attacking approach and maintained a high run rate. There is also growing talk around KL Rahul’s role in the team, with the management considering using him in the middle order as a wicketkeeper-batter.

With several aggressive players expected to bat early, India want an experienced batter in the middle who can handle pressure situations. Rahul’s calm approach and ability to control the innings could prove valuable if early wickets fall or if the team needs stability.

More Names Enter Selection Discussion as India Weigh Options

A few more names are also being discussed. Rinku Singh is back in the conversation after missing the South Africa T20Is. The team did not drop him due to poor form.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has also caught the selectors’ attention after scoring a brilliant century in the recent ODI series against South Africa. He usually opens, but his flexibility makes him another option the team are considering.

On the bowling side, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube give the side strong balance as seam-bowling all-rounders. Their presence allows the captain to adjust the bowling attack based on conditions without weakening the batting depth.

Axar Patel’s illness has caused a small disruption. With him unavailable, Shahbaz Ahmed has come back into discussion. However, Washington Sundar is seen as the leading replacement.

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