New Delhi: Two months before the 2026 T20 World Cup, Shabman Gul Dropped from the Indian squad. Promoted as vice-captain for the Asia Cup, the right-handed batsman failed to generate a comeback, prompting the think tank to take a tough call. Tipped to lead India in all formats, Gill found himself at a critical juncture last December. A batsman who had reinvented himself during a dream summer in England, replaced Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain, and was closing in on Suriyakumar Yadav’s T20I captaincy, was suddenly left out of the World Cup squad.Gill shook his chin, wrapped up his trade commitments and assembled his staff in Mohali. During the chill of winter, with sidearmors and reliable net bowlers, he worked tirelessly on his white-ball game. Known to rely heavily on volume in training, Gill spent hours analyzing videos of his T20 outings and realized he needed to unlock more range and power in the traditional V – from deep cover to mid-wicket.Determined to turn things around, Gill accepts the challenge. The middle bat became his best friend, and he spent hours with it trying to find the sweet spot without losing shape. Before that, he often seemed too eager to hit the ball too hard. Even during the previous IPL season – when he scored 650 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 155.88 – he didn’t have the control he wanted in a traditional V. At times, the face of the bat closed slightly while hitting long-off and long-on, requiring height and distance.Problem identified, challenge accepted.The plan was simple. Every batting session consists of hundreds of deliveries with a middle bat – a thinner version of a regular bat that improves control – and that routine has continued this IPL season. Gill is regularly seen warming up with the middle before each range hitting session. There has been a significant reduction in the incidence of the bat spinning in his hands or the face closing at impact. Now he’s holding his pose more often and looking for meteor connections.There is a crisp ping from the bat whenever he goes straight, and his fine control has made him a cameraman’s delight this IPL season. It has been his best season in terms of strike rate and sixes, yet he hasn’t seemed to compromise on his strong batting fundamentals. Hardly any ramps, scopes or paddles — just textbook batting with a wide range.
File photo of Shubman Gul in the net. (Screenshot/X)
Against spinners, he has used the various sweeps effectively, but without thought, allowing it to retain its elegance and grace. And the numbers don’t lie. In IPL 2026, in 13 games, he scored 616 runs at a strike rate of 161.68, his highest in the tournament.Like his approach to life, Gill keeps his batting uncomplicated.The hours spent with his staff in Mohali not only helped him rebuild his T20 game but also gave him a break after a few months. Away from the spotlight, home-cooked meals behind bars brought back a simpler time — while preparing it for better food ahead.
