IPL 2026 has injected an even sharper, fast-scoring rhythm into batting, compelling established names to evolve just as quickly as the game itself. Players like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill have had to keep pace with a new wave of aggression, while emerging batters such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are regularly finding the boundary with strike rates hovering around the 200-mark. As a result, the ceiling for T20 totals has moved higher across venues, and totals above 220 are no longer treated as automatically safe. This season, sides are chasing those numbers with surprising regularity, forcing technically sound batters to broaden their range and accelerate from the earliest phases. Kohli and Gill have responded well to the demand—maintaining their quality while increasing tempo. Gill has amassed 616 runs at a strike rate of 161.67, and Kohli is in similarly commanding form with 557 runs at 163.82, including another return to the 500-run milestone in his IPL career. With every match, IPL 2026 continues to reset expectations—rewarding bold intent, quick decision-making, and consistent scoring in every match-up.
Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya praised the batting influence of Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, pointing to their technique and mental strength as key elements of the franchise’s batting structure. Ahead of Qualifier 1 between RCB and GT, Dahiya underlined the importance of having players who are technically reliable and mentally prepared to shift gears when the format calls for it.
“Absolutely, these three [Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli], are going to play a very crucial role, and one thing that you mentioned, good, you mentioned these three names, and that tells you that if you are technically very strong, all three names, if you want to put them in grade, they are there. Very strong mentally, and they can change the game according to the format,”
Dahiya also highlighted how Kohli and Gill’s development is shaped by experience and temperament—especially their ability to respond to changing game situations. He explained that both players have proven they can adjust their approach depending on the context, and that this adaptability is central to their continued effectiveness in modern T20 cricket.
Shifting focus to Gill specifically, the Gujarat Titans captain faced heavy scrutiny before the season after missing out on the T20 World Cup squad, with his strike rate becoming a focal point for criticism. Yet since then, Gill has elevated his performance, adding another layer to his batting and addressing concerns with clear intent and execution.
Dahiya elaborated on the contrasts and similarities between Kohli and Gill, particularly their capacity to recalibrate their innings across different match demands. In his view, the experience of someone like Kohli—who has played far more IPL innings than the other two—helps explain why he has been able to transform his game so effectively. Still, Dahiya stressed that Gill’s current form demonstrates both technical assurance and strong mental composure.
“This is what they have done. But you have to have that in you to change according to the situation, according to the format, and all three have done that. Virat Kohli has done more than anyone else in this because he has played much more than the other two names that you spoke about. But this season the way Shubham Gill has played, I think he tells you how strong he is, not only technically, but mentally as well and can change his game according to the situation and according to the demand of the format as well,”
