Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes IPL 2026 could prove to be a defining phase in Shubman Gill’s T20 career, especially after his surprising omission from India’s T20 World Cup squad. Despite being India’s Test and ODI captain, Gill missed out due to concerns around his strike rate and overall impact in the shortest format, with selectors opting for Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan instead—both of whom played key roles in India’s title-winning campaign.
However, Pujara is confident that Gill has both the temperament and skill set to bounce back strongly. He sees the upcoming IPL season as the perfect opportunity for the Gujarat Titans skipper to reassert his credentials in T20 cricket and push for a national comeback.
“The T20 World Cup snub will definitely motivate Shubman Gill. He is a quality player across formats. If he performs well in IPL 2026, he will certainly come back into India’s T20 plans,” Cheteshwar Pujara said while speaking on JioHotstar.
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While Gill’s consistency in longer formats remains unquestioned, the conversation around his T20 game has largely revolved around intent and scoring tempo. Pujara addressed this aspect as well, suggesting that the IPL offers Gill a chance to evolve his approach without compromising his natural game.
“There will be some pressure on him because he has been left out of the T20 side. But this is also a big opportunity. He needs to continue batting well while trying to accelerate more. If he can consistently strike at 150 to 160, it will strengthen his case significantly,” he added.
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Gill will lead the Gujarat Titans into IPL 2026 with a point to prove—not just as a captain, but as a T20 batter aiming to silence doubts. After a disappointing exit in the Eliminator last season, the Titans will be keen to make a deeper run this year.
They begin their campaign against Punjab Kings on March 31, and all eyes will be on Gill to see whether he can transform pressure into performance and reclaim his place in India’s T20 setup.
