With the Indian Premier League 2026 set to begin on March 28, Shubman Gill will be one of the players to watch out for. Although Gujarat Titans’ captain continues to be an integral part of India’s Test and ODI squads, his omission from the national T20 team has sparked widespread debate. Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes it could motivate Gill, potentially driving him toward a landmark IPL season.

The selectors’ choice to leave Gill out of the T20 World Cup was widely interpreted as a strategic move, reflecting a push for a more aggressive approach at the top of the order. While Gill has been a reliable presence in the longer formats, concerns over his ability to maintain the high strike rate in T20 cricket prompted the selectors to favour more explosive opening options.

Though many analysts considered this decision tactically sound, it also meant that Gill missed the chance to compete for a T20 trophy on home soil.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s “Game Plan – Know Your Team”, Pujara suggested that this setback could serve as motivation, fueling Gill to deliver an exceptional season for the Titans.

“Being left out of the T20 World Cup squad will certainly motivate Shubman Gill. He’s a top-quality player capable of performing across all three formats. If he shines in IPL 2026, there’s no doubt he will make his way back into India’s T20I setup. As the Test squad leader and ODI captain, he is a true multi-format player. A strong season will put him back firmly on the selectors’ radar for the national team,” Pujara said.

Gill enters IPL 2026 with strong form behind him. In the 2025 edition, he scored 650 runs at an average of 50.00, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer. He also improved his strike rate to 155.88, well above his career average of 138.72, indicating a clear evolution in his approach.

Despite these personal achievements, the Gujarat Titans fell short in the Eliminator. Pujara believes this season offers the perfect platform for him to balance consistency with aggression and finally answer the critics challenging his style in the shortest format.

“There will naturally be some pressure on him since he hasn’t been part of India’s T20 squad. However, it’s also a fantastic chance for him to continue his batting in the way he has been. He needs to focus on accelerating a bit more, which he has been working on. This IPL season is ideal for him to prove that he can maintain a strike rate between 150 and 160,” Pujara added.

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