Gujarat Titans' captain Shubman Gill has addressed his exclusion from Team India's T20I set up, asserting that he has nothing to prove in the upcoming IPL season. Despite serving as India's vice-captain in the shortest format for sometime, Gill was famously left out of the squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup to accommodate Sanju Samson in the top order. This tactical shift ultimately paid off for the national side, as India went on to secure a historic record-breaking third title.
I have the most runs in the IPL: Shubman Gill on T20 World Cup snub
While Gill may no longer be a fixture in the T20 international lineup, his leadership credentials remain undisputed in other formats. He continues to captain the Indian Test and ODI teams, maintaining a central role in the country’s long-term cricketing strategy.
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By dismissing the idea that the tournament is a personal audition for a comeback, Gill appears focused on his dual responsibilities as a premier batsman and a franchise leader. As he prepares to lead the Titans into the nineteenth edition of the league, his primary objective remains team success rather than answering critics regarding his place in India’s T20 future.
"Not at all, sir. I think if you look at the past three or four seasons, I have the most runs in the IPL. So I don't think I have anything to prove this season in particular. And in the four years that I've played for this team, I think we have done decently well as a unit. And I think I've done decently well as a batsman. So I don't think I need to prove my worth to anyone," Gill said in the press conference ahead of the IPL 2026 opener.
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I need to keep doing what I've been doing: Gill
Gill has consistently proven himself to be one of the most prolific scorers in IPL, maintaining an elite level of run-scoring over several seasons. His recent form has been particularly impressive, highlighted by a massive 890-run campaign in 2023. He followed that up with a steady 426-run season the following year and continued his dominance in 2025 by amassing another 650 runs, further cementing his status as a premier top-order anchor.
"I think I need to keep doing what I've been doing for the past four years. And as a team, we need to be consistent, which I think we have been. If we continue doing that, sooner or later, we will win that trophy once more," Gill concluded.
Meanwhile, GT will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 31.
Here's GT's full schedule for IPL 2026:
Mar 31 – vs PBKS – 7:30 PM – New Chandigarh
Apr 4 – vs RR – 7:30 PM – Ahmedabad
Apr 8 – vs DC – 7:30 PM – Delhi
Apr 12 – vs LSG – 3:30 PM – Lucknow
Apr 17 – vs KKR – 7:30 PM – Ahmedabad
Apr 20 – vs MI – 7:30 PM – Ahmedabad
Apr 24 – vs RCB – 7:30 PM – Bengaluru
Apr 26 – vs CSK – 3:30 PM – Ahmedabad
Apr 30 – vs RCB – 7:30 PM – Ahmedabad
May 3 – vs PBKS – 7:30 PM – Ahmedabad
May 9 – vs RR – 7:30 PM – Jaipur
May 12 – vs SRH – 7:30 PM – Ahmedabad
May 16 – vs KKR – 7:30 PM – Kolkata
May 21 – vs CSK – 7:30 PM – Chennai