Shubman Gill was the notable omission from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad earlier this year. He looked to be a sure-shot for the global showpiece after his return to the format as vice-captain.
However, the 26-year-old struggled to make an impact as an opener, scoring 291 runs in 15 matches at an average of 24.25 and a strike-rate of 137.26.
Consequently, Gill was axed from the side with Sanju Samson being restored as first-choice opener and Ishan Kishan selected as cover. Axar Patel was reinstated as India's vice-captain in T20Is.
Following the setback, Gill chose the IPL 2026 to stake a claim for his place in the national T20I side. He has led Gujarat Titans (GT) from the front, with 722 runs from 15 innings at an impressive strike rate of 163.71 as the franchise stands on the brink of lifting their second IPL title.
On the eve of GT’s title clash against RCB in Ahmedabad, Gill expressed his desire to "get better as a batsman" to regain his slot in the Indian T20I team.
"I'd be happy to play if I get picked for the T20 team. Honestly, I want to keep working on my game. I want to keep getting better as a T20 batsman, as an ODI batsman, as a Test batsman," Gill said in the pre-match presser.
"You know, cricket is such a game that you can never really get perfect, but obviously, you can strive for it, and that's what I try to do," he added.
The Titans captain stressed that not being in India's T20I scheme of things has not impacted his preparations.
"I think preparation is what keeps me mentally fresh, knowing what I need to do the next week, next couple of weeks or in the next series or next tournament, and preparing for that.
"It's about knowing the things that are in my control or knowing the things that I need to do well to be able to succeed and what we need to do well as a team to be able to succeed is what I think keeps me mentally fit," he noted.
Two more players have strengthened their claims for a place in the Indian T20I side as opener, a position which Gill usually occupies.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals is currently leading the Orange Cap race with 776 runs in 16 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30, including one hundred and five half-centuries.
"The kind of season he's had is remarkable. I've not seen anyone bat like the way he bats. I think in this format probably, he's, right now, one of the best batters in the world. It's not just hitting those boundaries, but his biomechanics and his hand speed no matter what opposition he plays against.
"I think, in the years to come, the opposition that he plays against is going to have a tough time against him," Gill said.
Sai Sudharsan, Gill's opening partner at Gujarat Titans, too has aggregated 710 runs this IPL season to underscore his T20 credentials.
"I think in a tournament like IPL, when I first started playing, one of the challenges that I faced was to keep playing the matches at the same intensity. I think that is one of Sai's biggest strengths." Gill termed Sudharsan's consistency in preparation as his biggest asset.
"When you play so many matches, there could be days where mentally or physically you don't feel up to the mark. But to be able to have the same intensity in all the matches and be consistent in your preparation and routine is not easy.
"He's someone who is very consistent in his routines, in his life outside of cricket. So, that's what makes him consistent on the field as well," added Gill.
(With PTI Inputs)
