Shubman Gill, the Test and ODI captain of the Indian cricket team, is now set to take the field facing a new kind of pressure.
After being left out of the squad for the New Zealand series and subsequently the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, he now has a massive opportunity to prove himself in the IPL 2026.
If his bat fails to fire this season, making a comeback to the T20 International team could become even more difficult.
Gill, the captain of the Gujarat Titans, has not been able to deliver consistent performances in the T20 format for some time now. This is precisely why his name gradually slipped down the pecking order within Team India’s T20I playing group. Now, the IPL 2026 could, in a way, serve as a turning point in his career.
A Major Challenge Awaits Gill in IPL 2026
Former Indian opener and cricket expert Aakash Chopra believes that this upcoming IPL is going to be extremely crucial for Gill. He stated unequivocally that to secure a spot in Team India, Gill will need to deliver a monumental performance this season.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said: “There are multiple opportunities. Could this be the season in which Shubman Gill rejoins the T20I race? Let’s be very honest, he is way out of the race at the moment. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are playing at the moment, and Ishan Kishan is there with them.”
In reality, there is currently fierce competition within India’s T20 top order. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan are batting brilliantly. Meanwhile, players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and Ruturaj Gaikwad are also queuing up for a spot in the team.
For this very reason, Aakash Chopra believes that if Gill wishes to catch the selectors’ attention once again, he must pile up a massive tally of runs in this IPL. He further added: “Yashasvi Jaiswal is sitting on the sidelines, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi will be breathing down his neck at some stage. Ruturaj Gaikwad is also in the mix. So, could this be the 700-800-run season in which he also plays a slightly different brand of cricket? That is something that Shubman Gill is capable of doing.”
High Expectations from Washington Sundar
Aakash Chopra also made significant remarks regarding Gujarat Titans all-rounder Washington Sundar. According to him, Sundar has been playing in the IPL for several years—and has even been acquired for hefty sums on multiple occasions—yet he has not quite managed to make the kind of major impact that is expected of him.
He stated: “Could this be that season? I am expecting a slightly bigger role for him. You might see him batting at No. 4 or No. 5. When he takes on a larger role with the bat, you will naturally expect a lot more from him with the ball as well.”
In the previous IPL season, Washington Sundar played only six matches for the Gujarat Titans. Across five innings, he scored 133 runs, while with the ball, he managed to take just two wickets in 10.5 overs.
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra believes that the Gujarat Titans, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, have a strong chance of reaching the playoffs once again this season, given that the team has qualified for the playoffs three times and reached the final twice over the last four years.
