This Indian Premier League (IPL) season is highly crucial for Shubman Gill, not only because he is the captain of the Gujarat Titans (GT), but also for his own desire to make a comeback in India’s T20I team.
GT is only one step away from making its way into another IPL final. If they can make their steps into the last stage of the tournament, then it will help Gill cement his position as a prolific skipper in Indian cricket.
Will Shubman Gill be able to make his way back into the T20I team
The top order batter is the skipper in Test and ODI formats. He was the vice captain in the T20Is as well. Ahead of the 2026 ICC T20I World Cup, the team management dropped the batter from their side. That exclusion might have hurt Shubman Gill’s dignity.
Many cricket experts believe that IPL 2026 could be the launching pad for Gill to re-enter the T20I squad. As the skipper of the Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill has so far done a decent job as the opener of the team. With a batting average of 44.14, he has scored 618 runs, including 6 half-centuries.
In this course, the batter, whose average IPL strike rate is 141.22, has performed this season with an improved strike rate of 159.27, which is the highest for the 26-year-old in his Indian Premier League career.
Aakash Chopra predicts Gill's future in T20Is
Despite increasing the strike rate and showing more aggression in batting, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that it will not be enough to make a comeback into the T20 International Team.
“Shubman Gill, the batter, Shubman Gill, the captain, I think he has done very well for the Gujarat Titans. He has played in an aggressive manner in the ball game. He is trying to take down the quality fast bowlers and spinners,” Aakash Chopra said.
“Noor Ahmda, Sunil Narine, he has upgraded his game a little bit. He has shown a little more aggressive style without losing consistency. But the big question is, will he be able to make a place in T20I? Not immediately.”
According to the former opener, there are too many contenders right now. So, for the next few months, there could be hardly any chance for Shubman Gill to make his comeback in the Men in Blue for the shortest format of the game.
“You can see in the next 6-10 months, he won't be able to make a place in T20I. Because there is already a traffic jam. Other contenders won't be able to make a place in T20I… But Gill can make a comeback. There are only three players who have produced 400+ runs seasons seven times in IPL.” Chopra also stated his opinion.
Captain Shubman Gill will have to prove his mettle, or is he just a trophy away from cementing his place in the Indian T20I team? 👀#ShubmanGill #GujaratTitans pic.twitter.com/7NEhpeCQo0
— CREX (@Crex_live) May 29, 2026
Doors closed for the GT skipper!
Chopra mentioned some points in favour of Gill, but his gut feeling says that the batter will not be able to make a comeback soon in T20Is.
“So he can make a name for himself. But in the foreseeable future, maybe not. You can see in the next 6-10 months, he won't be able to make a place in T20I,” Chopra concluded.
