Former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026 season that Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill can consider his exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as a big motivation, which will motivate him to perform in the upcoming tournament. Pujara, speaking on JioHotstar, said that Shubman Gill is a “quality player who is fit for all three formats” and if his IPL performance is good, he can again find his place in the Indian T20I team.

Pujara said, “Missing the T20 World Cup will definitely motivate Shubman Gill. He is a player suitable for all three formats. If he performs well in IPL 2026, he will definitely make a comeback for the Indian T20I team. He is the captain in both Test and ODI and is a multi-format player. If he has a good season, he will be on his way to making a comeback in the Indian team.”

Pujara also said that there will be pressure on Shubman Gill to be left out of the T20I team this year, but the IPL is a great opportunity for him to showcase his versatile batting ability. “He will need to play a little more fast, and aim for a strike rate of 150-160. This IPL season is the best opportunity for him to prove that,” said Pujara.

Considering Gujarat Titans as a strong contender for the title this season, Pujara stressed on the team’s strong batting and strength. He described captain Shubhman Gill, Sai Sudarshan and Jos Buttler as part of the team’s excellent top order, who are scoring runs regularly.

“Gujarat Titans are title contenders this season. Their top order consists of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan and Jos Buttler. All three have scored runs strongly, which is their main strength.”

Pujara also said that Gujarat has become even stronger due to the contribution of the team’s all-rounders, especially Jason Holder, in batting and bowling. “Rahul Tewatia will be seen as the main finisher, while Shahrukh Khan can also be a key player,” added Pujara.

Talking about the bowlers of Gujarat Titans, Pujara said that their biggest strength is their seamer bowlers. Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna along with other bowlers like Ishant Sharma and Ashok Sharma are also in the team, who add depth to the team’s bowling.

“Rabada, Siraj and Krishna are the main fast bowlers in the bowling department of Gujarat Titans, while Ishant Sharma is also on the bench. Ashok Sharma can create a stir with his fast bowling.”

The schedule of the first phase of IPL 2026 has been announced, in which the first match of Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, will be held against Punjab Kings on March 31 in Mullanpur. After this, Gujarat Titans’ first home match will be against Rajasthan Royals on 4th April at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

The post IPL 2026: Shubman Gill will get the benefit of being out of T20 World Cup, Cheteshwar Pujara’s big statement appeared first on Buzz | ….