Shubman Gill faced a difficult stretch heading into the IPL 2026 season, having been left out just before the T20 World Cup and missing any real role in India’s title-winning campaign. Even though he had been brought into the national side about six months earlier as vice-captain, his momentum stalled after that. The pattern of returns and setbacks continued around major events: his batting output dried up once he was included for the Asia Cup, and he was ultimately dropped for the New Zealand series and then for the T20 World Cup squad. Against that backdrop, Gill’s turnaround in the IPL was the story—he finished among the tournament’s leading run-scorers, drove Gujarat Titans to the final, and then ran into the kind of execution gap that can decide a title match.
Key takeaways
- Gill was left out ahead of the T20 World Cup after a run of limited opportunities following his vice-captaincy period in the Indian setup.
- His IPL 2026 recovery was immediate, culminating in a second-place finish in the tournament’s run chart.
- Gujarat Titans reached the final under his influence, but the side fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- In the 19th IPL season, Gill scored 732 runs across 16 matches, striking at 163.02 with an average of 45.75.
- His most decisive knock came in Qualifier 2 versus Rajasthan Royals, when he made 104 to push his team to the final.
From international setbacks to an IPL reset
Gill entered IPL 2026 with plenty to prove, after being dropped right before India’s T20 World Cup. Despite being part of the team setup roughly six months ahead—where he held the vice-captaincy—he did not get a meaningful chance to contribute to India’s trophy run. Once the Asia Cup arrived, the scoring tempo did not materialise, and that decline played a part in him being removed from the squad for the subsequent tour of New Zealand and later the T20 World Cup.
Yet the 26-year-old returned to form in a big way during IPL 2026. He ended the season as the second-highest run-getter and also took on a leadership-like responsibility with the bat, guiding Gujarat Titans to the final. The campaign ultimately ended in disappointment, though, as the Titans were edged in the title match by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Why Gill’s T20 value matters, especially outside India
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar expressed strong admiration for Gill’s run of form, arguing that his skill set will remain in demand for T20 cricket because India also plays plenty of matches overseas. Manjrekar’s point was that conditions can vary drastically beyond Indian pitches, and batters who can handle tougher scenarios tend to become even more valuable in T20s.
On Sportstar’s ‘Insight Edge Podcast’, he said he had previously felt Gill was getting pushed aside in the race for places in the Indian T20I team, noting that Gill had “lost his place.” Still, Manjrekar stressed that T20 performances cannot be judged solely through the lens of Indian conditions, explaining that future T20 tournaments could be held in places such as England, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand—where scoring can be less straightforward than it often is in the IPL.
He also urged the selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, to keep Gill within India’s broader T20 planning. In Manjrekar’s view, Gill’s style and temperament would be particularly useful when batting pitches are not at their friendliest. He went on to add that it feels “imperative” for players like Gill to be part of India’s T20 scheme when the schedule is likely to involve challenging batting surfaces.
How Gill’s IPL 2026 campaign unfolded
Gill’s biggest moment in IPL 2026 arrived in the 19th edition’s Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals. In that game, he struck a match-defining 104 runs, helping Gujarat Titans secure their spot in the final and set up a showdown with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Across the season, Gill played 16 matches and accumulated 732 runs. His batting average finished at 45.75, while his strike rate read 163.02—numbers that underlined both consistency and an ability to accelerate. His opening partner, Sai Sudharsan, also had a major contribution, finishing the tournament with more than 700 runs.
Despite all the momentum, Gill could not make the breakthrough on the biggest night. In the final against RCB, he failed to get going, and once both he and Sudharsan returned to the pavilion, Gujarat Titans lost the pathway to victory—leaving the door shut on their title bid.
