Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has shared simple advice for Shubman Gill as the Gujarat Titans captain prepares for IPL 2026. Gill recently lost his place in India’s T20I squad, even after being named as the deputy to Suryakumar Yadav earlier.
With IPL 2026 approaching, Gill now has an important opportunity to prove his form again in the shortest format. The upcoming season could play a key role in strengthening his chances of returning to India’s T20I setup.
Ashwin’s Advice for Gill Before IPL 2026
Ashwin believes Gill should focus on playing his natural batting game rather than chasing a very high strike rate.
According to Ashwin, Gill’s biggest strength is his ability to build innings and score consistently. Instead of forcing aggressive shots every ball, Gill should concentrate on making big scores and maintaining a steady run flow.
Ashwin shared this opinion while discussing Gill’s situation on his YouTube channel. He suggested that if Gill simply focuses on scoring plenty of runs, he will naturally remain in the selectors’ plans.
Ashwin explained that trying too hard to maintain an extremely high strike rate can sometimes harm the team if a batter fails to convert starts into big scores.
For Gujarat Titans, Gill’s role will be to provide stability at the top of the order while also scoring at a sensible pace.
Gill’s Situation in India’s T20I Setup
Gill’s role in India’s T20I squad saw changes ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 cycle.
At one stage, the team management had considered Gill as vice-captain in the T20I setup under Suryakumar Yadav. The idea was to build the batting order around him in the top positions.
However, Gill’s performances in the format did not fully meet expectations, and the plans around his leadership role in the T20I team changed.
This made the upcoming IPL season even more important for him.
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Ashwin’s Message: Score Big Runs in IPL 2026
Ashwin believes the best way for Gill to return to India’s T20I team is simple: score a large number of runs in IPL 2026.
He pointed out that Gill has already proven himself as a top-class batter in all formats. If he continues to score consistently, it will be difficult for selectors to ignore him.
Ashwin also mentioned that Gill has become extremely difficult to dismiss, especially when he plays in Ahmedabad.
His advice is clear — focus on scoring runs, maintain consistency, and adapt according to the team’s requirements.
If Gill manages to produce another strong IPL season, his place in India’s T20 plans could quickly become stronger again.
Shubman Gill’s IPL 2025 Performance
Gill had an excellent IPL season in 2025 while playing for Gujarat Titans. His performance showed his ability to anchor the innings and score heavily.
| Season | Team | Runs | Matches | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gujarat Titans | 650 | 15 | 50.00 | 155.87 |
These numbers highlight Gill’s consistency and ability to score big runs for his team.
For IPL 2026, Gill’s main goal will be to continue his run-scoring form while maintaining balance in his batting approach.
If he can combine consistency with smart shot selection, he could once again become a strong option for India’s T20I side.
A successful IPL campaign with Gujarat Titans will not only help his team but also strengthen his case for returning to the national T20 setup.
