“Batting orders are overrated, except the two openers.”

Head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated his coaching philosophy recently, and it could soon come under scrutiny. As the national senior selection committee meets at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Saturday (December 20, 2025) to finalise India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, it is the opening combination that is likely to generate the most debate.

The selection panel, chaired by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar, otherwise faces a relatively straightforward task while picking the squad for the marquee event, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March. Since Gambhir took over as head coach in July 2024, the T20I side has emerged as India’s most settled and successful unit across formats.

The one area that has remained unsettled, however, is the opening slot. Ever since Shubman Gill was recalled after a year-long hiatus ahead of the Asia Cup in September, the debate has only intensified.

Gill has scored 291 runs in 15 innings since his return, striking at 137.26, with a 28-ball 47 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup being his highest score. While respectable, the numbers have not fully matched the demands of a modern T20 opener.

Gill’s return came at the expense of Sanju Samson, who had enjoyed a prolific 12-month run at the top of the order, scoring three hundreds.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, meanwhile, remains firmly in contention. Preferred over Gill as the reserve opener for the 2024 T20 World Cup, Jaiswal has strengthened his case by making significant contributions in the limited opportunities he has received in India’s Blues.

The selectors must now decide whether to persist with Gill — also India’s designated vice-captain — and opt for Jaiswal as the reserve opener, or revisit Samson’s role as a wicketkeeper-opener. Ishan Kishan has further complicated matters with a timely resurgence, playing a key role in Jharkhand’s triumphant Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign.

Beyond the opening slot, the reserve wicketkeeper’s position is also up for discussion. While Jitesh Sharma appears certain to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, the battle between Samson and Ishan for the backup role remains open.

Elsewhere, the squad looks largely settled. The only other notable question is whether Rinku Singh, who missed out on the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, will again be overlooked in favour of Washington Sundar.

With the Gambhir-Agarkar combine showing a clear preference for all-rounders over specialists, Washington appears to have the edge.

Agarkar is scheduled to address the media after the selection committee meeting on Saturday (December 20) afternoon.