IPL 2026: Not Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma or Sanju Samson! Former CSK, KKR player predicts This India Player may rule

Add as a preferred source on Google

India's triumphant march to the T20 World Cup 2026 title was a spectacle of dominance, etched in history at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. On March 8, 2026, the Men in Blue crushed New Zealand by 96 runs in the final.

Sanju Samson's explosive 89, Ishan Kishan's fiery 54, and Jasprit Bumrah's lethal 4-wicket haul powered India to their third T20 World Cup crown-the first team to achieve three titles, back-to-back victories, and a home triumph. The nation erupted in joy as India defended their 2024 title in style, proving virtually unbeatable.

Yet, amid the celebrations, one notable absence lingered as Shubman Gill, India's Test and ODI captain, was not part of the squad. Dropped due to a lean patch in T20Is and selectors prioritizing Samson and Kishan, Gill watched from the sidelines.

The snub, announced months earlier, sparked debate, but Gill responded with maturity, respecting the decision. This exclusion, however, could ignite a fire in him. Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, the omission serves as a potent motivation. Gill, known for his elegant strokeplay and leadership, has the talent to channel disappointment into dominance as he leads the Gujarat Titans.

Shubman Gill may Fire after T20 World Cup Snub

And former India player Cheteshwar Pujara believes that snub may well be the impetus Gill needed to showcase his devastating self in the IPL 2026 season.

"The T20 World Cup squad snub will definitely fire up Shubman Gill. He is a quality player suited for all three formats. If he has a good IPL 2026 season, he will surely put his name in India's T20I squad. He is leading the Test squad and is also the ODI captain. He is a multi-format player. If he has a good season, he will be back in the scheme of things for the Indian team," Pujara said while speaking at Jio Hotstar.

Pujara also believes the opportunity lingers for Gill to showcase his fearless batting ability and score at a higher strike rate, which was a key reason behind his omission in the T20 World Cup.

"There will be some pressure on him because he has not been part of the India squad in the shortest format. But at the same time, it is a great opportunity for him to carry on batting the way he has. He needs to try and accelerate a little more because that is something he has been working on. This IPL season is the perfect one for him to show he can bat at a strike rate of 150 to 160," he added.

GT begin IPL 2026 against PBKS

Gill will be captaining the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 as they begin their campaign against Punjab Kings on March 31. The season starts from March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru locking horns against Sunrisers Hyderabad.