“You were truly special to me” - Shubman Gill’s New Year message ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Indian cricketers welcomed the New Year by connecting with fans online, sharing warm messages and celebratory moments on social media. Shubman Gill posted a video reflecting the mix of challenges, learning moments, and major achievements from 2025 that shaped his journey as India’s Test and ODI captain.

With no matches scheduled, India’s men’s cricketers used the New Year break to unwind with family and friends after a successful season that included lifting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The break gives them a chance to rest and reset before a demanding year ahead, including the T20 World Cup in February-March.

You Were Truly Special To Me - Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill shared a rewind clip from the last year, reflecting on both on and off the field moments. He described the past season as meaningful and full of learning and said that he plans to carry those experiences with him into 2026.

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“2025, you were truly special to me. So many lessons, experiences, and memories to be grateful for. Carrying it all forward into 2026,” Gill wrote.

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Shubman Gill’s Mixed Performances Across All Formats in 2025

Shubman Gill went through a year of highs and lows in international cricket. His biggest setback came in T20Is. After a series of low scores, he was dropped from India’s T20I side and missed out on the home T20 World Cup. In 2025, he scored 291 runs in 15 T20I innings at an average of just over 24, without a fifty.

Gill was outstanding in the longest format, especially on the tour of England. He scored 754 runs in five Tests at an average of 75.40, including four centuries, with a career-best 269. Overall, he finished the year with 983 runs in nine Tests at an average of 70.21, with five hundreds to his name.

Gill scored 490 runs in 11 ODIs at an average of 49.00, with two centuries and two fifties. He played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy win, scoring 188 runs, highlighted by a century against Bangladesh. The year was also special as Gill became India’s Test and ODI captain.

Shubman Gill’s Inconsistent Performances Since His Return To T20Is

The 26-year-old has been dropped from India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup following his inconsistent performances in T20Is. The right-handed batter also lost his vice-captain role. Gill had returned to the T20I side during the Asia Cup 2025 and was named vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav.

Since his comeback, Gill has struggled for runs. In the Asia Cup 2025, he scored 127 runs in seven matches at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate of 151.19. He amassed 132 runs in the five-match T20I series against Australia at an average of 44.00 with a strike rate of 136.08.

His form dipped further in the recent South Africa series. Gill managed only 32 runs in three matches at an average of 10.66 and a strike rate of 103.22. With these numbers, the selectors decided to leave him out of the T20 World Cup squad.

Also read: Shubman Gill goes into isolation mode after T20 World Cup snub, trains relentlessly to save his career