MUMBAI: Indian selectors dropped Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill on Saturday from the T20 squad for the World Cup in February after a prolonged form slump. Gill, 26, has scored only 291 runs in his last 15 matches in the game’s shortest format at an average of 24.25. However, batter Suryakumar Yadav was retained as captain despite similar concerns over his form. A T20 specialist, Suryakumar has managed just 244 runs across his last 22 innings in the format, without a single fifty. All-rounder Axar Patel was named as Suryakumar’s deputy. The same team will also play five home T20Is against New Zealand from January 21, the last round of international matches before the World Cup. The 10th edition of the tournament, which will be hosted by Sri Lanka and India, will feature 20 nations. India captain Gill doubtful for second test due to neck injury India are the defending champions, having beaten South Africa in a thrilling 2024 final in Barbados. World T20 squad : Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Axar Patel (vice-capt) Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.