Cheteshwar Pujara Predicts Shubman Gill's IPL 2026 Surge After T20 World Cup Snub
In a recent interview on JioHotstar, veteran Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara expressed strong confidence that Shubman Gill will channel his disappointment from being left out of India's T20 World Cup squad into a standout performance in the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Pujara emphasized that Gill, who captains the Gujarat Titans, possesses the perfect blend of skill and motivation to force his way back into India's T20I setup with a strong campaign.
Gill's Multi-Format Prowess and IPL Opportunity
Pujara highlighted Gill's status as a complete, multi-format player, noting his leadership roles in Test and ODI cricket. "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," Pujara stated. He acknowledged that the omission brings added pressure but framed it as a significant opportunity for Gill to demonstrate his growth in the shortest format, particularly by improving his scoring rate.
"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 to 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," Pujara added, underscoring the critical role of strike rate in T20 cricket.
Gujarat Titans' Title Contender Status
Turning to team prospects, Pujara identified the Gujarat Titans as strong favorites for the IPL 2026 title, citing their formidable top order. "GT look like a title favourite this season. If you look at their squad, the top order of Captain Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler is incredible. You cannot have a better top order than them. These three have scored runs with amazing consistency. That is their main strength," he explained.
He further elaborated on the team's depth, praising the all-round capabilities brought by players like Jason Holder and the finishing skills of Rahul Tewatia. "The number of all-rounders they have, especially with the addition of Jason Holder, makes them even stronger. Holder is in great form with both bat and ball, and will love to contribute in both departments. Rahul Tewatia will be their main finisher. He can bowl a few overs if needed, but his primary job is to bat well at number six or seven. Shahrukh Khan is also a key player. If he starts performing as per his potential, GT will be a different team altogether," Pujara noted.
Bowling Strength and Key Fixtures
On the bowling front, Pujara underlined the potency of GT's pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, with experienced backup from Ishant Sharma and variety from Luke Wood. "When it comes to bowling, their strength is their seamers. Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna are their main pacers, and Ishant Sharma is also on the bench if needed. Ashok Sharma will be unleashed with his fiery pace at some point in the season. Left-armer Luke Wood is another seamer who knows how to do well. If Rabada does not perform, Wood can replace him. But I hope Rabada, being a strike bowler, has a good IPL. All GT fans will be hoping the same," he concluded.
The Gujarat Titans are set to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on March 31. Their schedule includes a home game against Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium on April 4, an away clash with Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 8, and a fixture against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on April 12.
