Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has publicly addressed his omission from India's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, revealing that he was left "numb" and "heartbreaking" by the decision. Sharma stated that he only became aware of his exclusion after the official squad announcement, with no prior communication from the selectors. In an interaction, Sharma shared the emotional toll the snub took, admitting he "couldn't process anything" at that moment. He further mentioned that spending time with his family and seeking advice from former India and RCB star Dinesh Karthik helped him cope with the disappointment and move forward. The 32-year-old, who had been a regular in India's T20I setup leading up to the World Cup, including seven consecutive matches and the final T20I against South Africa in December 2025, expressed that while the news was initially shocking, he later had discussions with the coaches and selectors and found their reasoning to be fair and valid. This aligns with the reports indicating that he eventually understood the team management's decisions, which focused on team composition. Alongside Jitesh Sharma, Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill was also a notable exclusion from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selected a 15-member team, which saw the return of players like Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan, prompting significant discussion among cricket enthusiasts and media in India.