Shubman Gill Breaks Silence on Omission From India’s T20I Team

Shubman Gill said he would happily play for India’s T20I team if selected while focusing on improving across formats.

Shubman Gill said he remains eager to return to India’s T20I team despite missing selection for the recent T20 World Cup, which India eventually won. The India Test and ODI captain last played a T20I against South Africa national cricket team in December 2025.

Gill admitted that inconsistent performances in the previous year cost him a place in the squad but stressed that he continues to focus on improving across all formats. The Gujarat Titans skipper said he would “be happy” if selectors considered him again for T20 cricket. He added that preparation and clarity about his role help him stay mentally fresh and focused before major tournaments and series.

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“I would be happy to play if I get picked for the T20 team. Honestly, I want to keep working on my game. I want to keep getting better as a T20 batsman, as an ODI batsman, as a Test batsman. You know, cricket is such a game that you can never really get perfect, but obviously, you can strive for it and that is what I try to do,” Gill said while speaking at the pre-match press conference.

“I think preparation is what keeps me mentally fresh, knowing what I need to do the next week, next couple of weeks or in the next series or next tournament and preparing for that,” Gill continued.

“It is about knowing the things that are in my control or knowing the things that I need to do well to be able to succeed and what we need to do well as a team to be able to succeed is what I think keeps me mentally fit,” he added.

The 26-year-old currently leads Gujarat Titans into the IPL 2026 final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gill missed selection for the T20 World Cup 2026 after a difficult run in T20 internationals throughout 2025. Despite serving as India’s T20I vice-captain earlier in the year, the opener struggled for consistency and failed to cement his place in the squad.

Gill scored 291 runs in 15 T20I innings in 2025 at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26. He also failed to register a single fifty or century during that phase. His poor run continued in the home series against South Africa in December 2025, where he managed scores of 28, 0 and 4. Against Australia earlier, he scored 46 and 5.

India’s selectors preferred more aggressive combinations involving wicketkeeper-openers like Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, while Yashasvi Jaiswal’s attacking style also reduced Gill’s chances.

However, Gill has responded strongly in IPL 2026, leading Gujarat Titans to the final with 722 runs at an average of 48.13 and a strike rate above 160.