After being left out of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 team and the corresponding T20I series against New Zealand, Shubman Gill has returned his attention to batting practice and regional cricket.
Axar Patel was elected vice-captain for the World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host next year, replacing the India Test and ODI skipper, who had been vice-captain for the T20I series against South Africa.
Gill has been working out hard at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali since the rejection. He improved his technique in preparation for the new year by playing magnificent shots through both the off and leg sides throughout the nets.
Gill has been working out hard at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali since the rejection. He improved his technique in preparation for the new year by playing magnificent shots through both the off and leg sides throughout the nets.
Gill is also set to represent Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to maintain match fitness. Although he was included in Punjab’s tournament team, he did not play in their victory over Maharashtra by 51 runs at the Anantam Ground in Jaipur. On Friday, December 26, in Jaipur, Punjab will play Chhattisgarh.
The successful opening duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma was broken up after Gill was called up to the T20I team during the Asia Cup. After being named vice-captain, Rinku Singh’s chances as a finisher were limited and Samson was forced into the middle order due to his somewhat cautious style. But following a poor series against South Africa in which he was unable to establish form, Gill ran out of luck.
