After being left out of India’s 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, many fans and experts questioned Shubman Gill’s future in T20 cricket. However, Gill is set to return to Team India after the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is also likely to take up the captaincy role in place of Suryakumar Yadav.
The selectors removed Gill from the leadership plan and team selection. He lost his vice-captaincy and was dropped from the squad for the New Zealand series as well as the upcoming T20 World Cup. In the recent T20 series against South Africa, the opening batsman could score only 32 runs in three matches.
Gill missed the last two matches of the series after complaining of a right leg problem. It was also reported that the team management dropped him from the playing eleven despite being fit to play.
Shubman Gill likely to return to role after IPL 2026
Amidst his omission from the 2026 T20 World Cup squad and uncertainty over his captaincy, Shubman Gill finds himself on the sidelines. However, as India.com reports, the selectors are now reconsidering their stance after a positive response from the team management.
The opening batsman is expected to return to the national setup in a new role. Gautam Gambhir was instrumental in reducing the tension between Gill and the selectors, helping focus on the leadership vision rather than just the numbers.
Meanwhile, despite India’s T20 World Cup performance, Suryakumar Yadav may lose the captaincy after the IPL. The selectors and team management may make changes to the captaincy structure after IPL 2026, with Shubman Gill emerging as the central figure in the new plan.
Shubman Gill emerges at the forefront of India Plan leadership overhaul
India is planning a leadership transition with a clear focus on the future. Suryakumar Yadav is likely to lose his captaincy after the IPL, no matter how India performs in the T20 World Cup.
BCCI and selectors now want a long-term captain who can lead the team in all three formats. Shubman Gill has emerged as the frontrunner as the selectors see him as a player with longevity.
Gautam Gambhir helped improve the relationship between Gill and the selectors. He believes that Gill has the required skills, mindset and leadership qualities to lead India into the future.
Overall, the selectors are thinking beyond short-term results and planning for 2026 and beyond. With this long-term approach, Gill looks set to take over the captaincy, while Suryakumar Yadav is expected to move on from the role
Shubman Gill’s form has been continuously poor since his return to T-20.
Shubman Gill has been struggling to find consistency since his return to T20 Internationals. He made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2023, but was later dropped from the squad and missed the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Gill returned to the T20I squad during the Asia Cup in 2025. However, he failed to make a strong impact. He scored 127 runs in seven matches at a low average despite scoring at a good pace.
His form did not improve much in the series against Australia. He scored 132 runs in five matches but could not play a match-winning innings. The struggles continued in the recent series against South Africa. Overall, his performances since his return have raised concerns about his place in the T20I team.
Also read: No Ajit Agarkar! Suryakumar Yadav is the real villain behind Shubman Gill’s exclusion from T20.
