Gill is in a slightly unusual position: he’s the captain leading India to success in Test and ODI matches, yet he wasn’re selected for the T20 World Cup. Because of this, people are focusing even more on how quickly he scores (his strike rate), and this makes the upcoming IPL with Gujarat Titans a very interesting story. Pujara believes this is exactly what Gill needs to motivate him.
Pujara backs Gill to turn T20 World Cup snub into fuel
Pujara thinks being left off the team will really get Gill going. He says Gill is excellent in all forms of the game, and can definitely get back into the T20 international team if he has a great IPL. He believes the way to do this is simple: score lots of runs, maintain a fast scoring rate, and he’ll be back playing for India in T20.
Pujara didn’t beat around the bush. He said this IPL is the ideal chance for Gill to consistently score at a rate of 150 to 160 runs per 100 balls. It’s at the same time a challenge and a vote of confidence in Gill’s ability, telling him to speed things up and do it for a longer period.
Numbers that support a breakout IPL 2026 for Gill
The numbers are already showing Gill is moving in the right direction. In the 2025 IPL, he got 650 runs (averaging 50 per innings) and was the fourth-highest scorer in the whole competition. Even more importantly, he increased his scoring speed to 155.88 (compared to his usual of 138.72).
This improvement shows he’s trying. He started hitting the ball harder at the beginning of the innings (the powerplay), hit the ball to more parts of the field, and got into a good rhythm against fast bowlers. However, his team being knocked out in the eliminator meant questions about his game continued. Did he bat too slowly for too long? Could he keep up the pace when his team was trying to chase a score? The 2026 season gives him a fresh start to settle these questions.
Recently, Gill was given the BCCI Cricketer of the Year Award for his performances in Tests and ODIs, which shows he’s in good form and is fit, going into a format where how you play and the results you get are both important.
How Gujarat Titans could line up under Gill
Pujara thinks Gujarat Titans are favorites to win the championship, and he immediately highlights their strong batting lineup at the top of the order. The Titans have a good mix of players who are steady and those who are powerful, and this should allow Gill to be more aggressive at the start of the innings and keep the pressure on throughout the middle overs.
Top-order firepower sets the tone
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler as the first three batters offer both stability and a lot of hitting power. Gill can hit the ball to many places, Sudharsan controls the speed of his scoring, and Buttler hits the ball a long way – giving them several different ways to approach a game. This combination can either chase down big totals or set a challenging score on difficult pitches.
This team composition will also help Gill’s chances of getting back into the T20 team. With aggressive hitters around him, he can take more risks early on, aiming to hit over mid-off and midwicket, without needing to bat all the way to the end of the innings. If he scores quickly in the powerplay (above 150), the rest of the Titans team can then attack in the later stages of the innings.
All-round depth and pace options expand tactics
Jason Holder gives the middle order balance with both his batting and bowling, and Rahul Tewatia is still the player they rely on to finish the innings. If Shahrukh Khan can hit as many sixes as he’s capable of, Gujarat will be very strong at the very end of the innings against most bowling attacks.
Pujara also mentioned the strength of their fast bowlers. Kagiso Rabada is the main bowler, and he’s supported by Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and the left-armer Luke Wood. Experienced Ishant Sharma adds to their depth, and younger Ashok Sharma could play during the season.
Ashok’s speed and how the ball bounces make him a promising option, especially with the help of head coach Ashish Nehra. If Gujarat decide to use an extra all-rounder from another country at some point (and this creates a place for another Indian fast bowler), Ashok could come in and change the speed of the attack.
Pressure, opportunity, and a point to prove
There’s definite pressure on Gill. He’s not currently in India’s T20 plans, and when people criticize him, it’s usually about his strike rate. However, the opportunity in front of him is huge. He’s coming into the IPL in great form in Test and ODI cricket, has a good track record in the IPL, and is in a team that’s expected to go far in May.
For Gujarat to do well, they need to get off to a quick start. If the top of the batting lineup scores runs and the new-ball bowlers bowl well, Gill will be able to manage the team’s resources without pushing his finishing batsmen too hard. This will allow him to choose which bowlers to target, save Rabada or Siraj for the end of the innings, and use Ashok Sharma at the right time.
Ultimately, how Gill responds will be judged as much by how he plays as by how many runs he scores. Scoring quick 40s that speed up the powerplay, being willing to hit the ball hard and early, and playing with confidence in second gear after a break will show as much as the total number of runs. Do those things, and the criticism will stop.
The bottom line for IPL 2026
Shubman Gill doesn’t need to completely change his game; he needs to take what he’s good at and do it more effectively. The numbers from 2025 already show he’s turning into a modern T20 opener. With Pujara publicly supporting him, a strong Titans team, and a clear plan to score at 150+ runs per 100 balls, Gill has everything he needs to change how people see him.
If he continues to play with this intention and leads Gujarat back to the playoffs, he will almost certainly be picked for the T20 team again. If they win the title, everyone will be talking about it. The 2026 IPL is his chance to respond to his critics, change people’s opinions of him, and become a key player in India’s T20 future.
