Shubman Gill’s prolonged T20 slump raises tough questions ahead of World Cup

With continued failures in the T20 format, fresh questions rise over Shubman Gill’s place in India’s short-format plans ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Team India’s young and stylish batter Shubman Gill is once again under the spotlight after failing in the first T20 against South Africa, marking yet another disappointment in the shortest format. Returning from injury with high expectations, Gill’s continued inconsistency has triggered a renewed debate over his role in India’s T20 plans.

Though widely recognized as an exceptional talent, especially in Test and ODI cricket, Gill’s T20 journey has not lived up to the same promise. Despite repeated opportunities, he has struggled to deliver impactful performances. His extended lean patch has also become a point of contention as rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal, one of India’s most explosive young openers, often loses his place to accommodate Gill.

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At 26, Gill is currently part of all three formats. While the management believes he has the potential to excel across formats, critics argue that forcing him to play everything may be affecting his output. His recent numbers reflect that concern: since scoring a fluent half-century against Zimbabwe on July 13 last year, Gill has gone 513 days without a T20 fifty. Over his last 16 innings, he has consistently failed to convert starts.

Gill’s T20 trajectory once seemed promising. In February 2023, he smashed a breathtaking unbeaten century against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, scoring at a strike rate of 200. But following that knock, he has played seven T20Is across different venues and managed only 103 runs at an average of 14, with no major contributions.

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As India prepares its blueprint for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Gill’s place in the squad has become a central debate. Coach Gautam Gambhir, selectors, and BCCI bosses reportedly continue to back him strongly, wanting him to remain part of all formats. However, if his form does not improve soon, his selection for the World Cup may be in jeopardy.

For now, the pressure is firmly on Gill to revive his T20 form and justify the faith shown in him by the management.