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A fresh report suggesting that Shubman Gill could return to India's T20I setup and even emerge as a captaincy option has triggered a debate in cricket circles.
The claim quickly gained traction on social media, with several accounts amplifying the possibility of a dramatic comeback for the India ODI captain. However, the buzz has now run into resistance from journalists closely tracking developments around the Indian team, and some have publicly cast doubt on the report, indicating that Gill's return to the T20I side is far from imminent.
Reports claim Shubman Gill would make a T20I comeback
It was further stated that Gill's name had been recommended to the selectors and that the right-hander could soon be seen back in India's T20I team, which is currently being led by Shreyas Iyer.
The claim generated significant attention because Gill has been out of India's T20I plans for a while despite remaining a key figure in ODI and Test cricket. Also, reports suggested that Gambhir remained a strong supporter of Gill and wanted him to have a bigger role in the shortest format.
With Gill already captaining India in ODIs and being viewed as one of the pillars of the next generation, the report naturally sparked speculation over whether another leadership change could be on the horizon.
Shubman Gill's T20I comeback roadblock remains despite comeback buzz
However, the reports were quickly questioned by journalists who closely cover Indian cricket. Dainik Jagran journalist Abhishek Tripathi publicly reacted to the claim and stated that he did not believe the report was accurate. His response came shortly after the story started circulating widely on social media.
SportsTak's Vikrant Gupta also appeared to dismiss the speculation. During a discussion referenced by several cricket followers online, Gupta indicated that there was no concrete basis to the claim that Gill was set to return as a T20I captaincy option.
The reaction from both journalists is significant because neither suggested that the Indian team management was actively considering Gill for a T20I leadership role at this stage.
That aligns with India's current T20I structure, as Shreyas Iyer has been handed the captaincy following his immense success as a leader in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with different franchises
Shubman Gill's challenge is not just a leadership competition. He first needs to force his way back into a batting unit that has developed a clear identity built around ultra-aggressive cricket. Unless there is a major shift in selection thinking, his path back into the T20I side remains complicated despite the latest comeback buzz.
I think this is not true.... https://t.co/fNVQQdu9en
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) June 23, 2026
Shubman Gill's T20I numbers and IPL stats
Gill's overall T20 record remains impressive. In 36 T20Is for India, he has scored 869 runs at an average of 28.03 and a strike rate of 138.59. He also has one century and three half-centuries to his name, with a highest score of 126 not out.
While those numbers are respectable, India's T20 setup has evolved rapidly in recent years. The emergence of explosive openers and the team's preference for high-risk, high-reward batting have increased competition for places at the top of the order.
Shubman Gill's IPL performances, meanwhile, continue to underline his quality. He enjoyed a phenomenal IPL 2023 campaign for Gujarat Titans, scoring 890 runs in 17 matches at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80 while smashing three centuries.
He followed that up with 426 runs in IPL 2024 before returning strongly in IPL 2025, scoring 650 runs at an average of 50.00. His best season as captain came in IPL 2026, when he amassed 732 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate above 163.
Those numbers show that Gill remains one of the most consistent T20 batters in the country. The question, however, is not whether he can score runs. The bigger question is whether his style currently fits the template India have built in T20Is.
