New Delhi: Less than two months before the 2026 T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill was dropped from India’s squad. Elevated as vice-captain for the Asia Cup, the right-handed batter failed to produce the returns, prompting the think tank to take the tough call. Tipped to lead India across formats, Gill found himself at a delicate crossroads last December. A batter who had reinvented himself during a dream summer in England, replaced Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain, and was closing in on Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I captaincy, was suddenly out of the World Cup squad. Gill took the snub on the chin, wrapped up his commercial commitments and assembled his crew in Mohali. Through the winter chill, alongside side-armers and trusted net bowlers, he worked relentlessly on his white-ball game. Known for relying heavily on volume in training, Gill spent hours analysing videos of his T20 outings and realised he needed to unlock more range and power in the traditional V — from deep cover to mid-wicket.Determined to turn things around, Gill embraced the challenge. The middler bat became his best friend, and he spent hours with it to find the sweet spot without losing shape. Earlier, he often looked eager to hit the ball too hard. Even during the last IPL season — when he scored 650 runs in 15 innings at a strike-rate of 155.88 — he lacked the control he wanted in the traditional V. At times, the bat face would close slightly while hitting over long-off and long-on, costing him elevation and distance.Problem identified, challenge accepted. The plan was simple. Every batting session involved hundreds of deliveries with the middler bat — a thinner version of a regular bat that improves control — and the routine has continued through this IPL season. Gill is regularly seen warming up with the middler before every range-hitting session. The instances of the bat rolling in his hands or the face closing on impact have reduced significantly. He is now holding his pose more often and finding meatier connections.There’s been a crisp ping off the bat whenever he goes straight, and his improved control has made him a cameraperson’s delight this IPL season. It has been his best season in terms of strike-rate and six-hitting, yet he has never looked like compromising the strong foundations of his batting. There are hardly any ramps, scoops or paddles — just textbook batting with a wider range.
File photo of Shubman Gill in the nets. (Screenshot/X)
Against spinners, he has used different sweeps effectively, but without premeditation, allowing him to retain his elegance and grace. And the numbers don’t lie. In IPL 2026, in 13 games, he has amassed 616 runs at a strike rate of 161.68, which is his highest in the tournament.Much like his approach to life, Gill keeps his batting uncomplicated.
Which aspect of Gill’s game improvement do you find most impressive?
The hours spent in Mohali with his crew not only helped him reinvent his T20 game but also gave him a chance to pause after a frantic few months. Away from the spotlight, the home-cooked food behind the nets brought back simpler times — while preparing him for better ones ahead.
