The battle for spots in India’s T20I team has increased due to the emergence of several young players during this IPL, but Shubman Gill is prepared to “get better as a batsman” in order to reclaim his spot in the shortest format.
Gill, the captain of India in Test and ODI cricket, last played in a T20 International at home against South Africa in December 2025. However, due to a series of poor performances in the previous year, he was left out of India’s selection for the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
“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,” PTI quoted Gill as saying ahead of Gujarat Titans’ IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Gill played 15 T20Is in 2025, but he was only able to score a pitiful 291 runs at an average of 24.25; his highest score during this time was 47.
“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.
Gill emphasized that his preparations had not been impacted by his exclusion from India’s T20I set-up.
“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.
Gill has so far amassed 722 runs in IPL 2026 for GT to be ranked second on the Orange Cap list, so it wasn’t just lip service. However, two additional contenders have emerged for Gill’s traditional opening spot on the Indian side.
Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi demonstrated his willingness to be pitchforked to the highest level by destroying some elite bowlers on way to his current season-high 776 runs.
“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.
Gill’s opening partner at Gujarat Titans, Sai Sudharsan, has also scored 710 runs this IPL season to highlight his T20 abilities.
“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 described Sudharsan’s preparation constancy as his greatest strength.
“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.
