Shabman Gul Currently leading India in Tests and ODIs, the Gujarat Titans skipper has not given up on a return to the national T20I team.Speaking ahead of the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gill said he is focused on improving his game despite being out of India’s plans in the shortest format.The 26-year-old last played a T20 International in December 2025 during India’s home series against South Africa. After a difficult run in the format, Gayle was dropped from the squad for that year’s T20 World Cup, where India successfully defended their title.However, the opener insisted that his desire to represent India in T20Is remains.“If I am selected in the T20 team, I will be happy to play.”Instead of dwelling on selection issues, Gill said his focus is on continuous improvement across all formats of the game.“Honestly, I want to keep working on my game. I want to keep improving as a T20 batsman, as an ODI batsman, as a Test batsman.”Gayle had a disappointing run in T20 Internationals last year. In 15 matches in 2025, he could only score 291 runs at an average of 24.25, with a highest score of 47. These struggles eventually saw him lose his place amid fierce competition for starting spots.Since then, India’s T20 batting depth has only strengthened. Sanju Samson, meanwhile, cemented his place with an impressive T20 World Cup campaign. Abhishek Sharma has continued to strengthen its credentials. With the emergence of 15-year-old Vaibhu Suryavanshi, the competition has intensified. Rajasthan Royals The sensation scored 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237 over this IPL season.Despite the challenge ahead, Gill is determined to improve her game.“You know, cricket is a game where you can never be perfect, but of course, you can strive for it, and that’s what I try to do.”The Gujarat skipper entered the IPL final in superb form. He has scored 722 runs at an average of 48.13 and a strike rate of 163.72 this season, including a brilliant 104 off 53 balls in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals.Gill said focusing on preparation rather than external interactions has helped him stay mentally fresh throughout the season.“I think preparation is what keeps me mentally fresh, knowing what I need to do next week, the next two weeks or the next series or the next tournament, and preparing for that.”According to Gill, defining controllable factors is key to dealing with the pressures that come with international cricket.“It’s about knowing the things that I have or knowing the things that I need to do well to be successful and we need to do well as a team to be successful I think keeps me fit mentally.”While a return to India’s T20I setup may not be immediate given the competition for places, Gill’s performance in IPL 2026 has at least reopened the conversation. With another chance in the finals waiting, the Gujarat Titans skipper will look to further strengthen his case with the bat.
