Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill during IPL 2026. (AP Photo)

New Delhi: Less than two months before the 2026 T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill Was dropped from the Indian team. Promoted as vice-captain for the Asia Cup, the right-handed batsman failed to deliver returns, leaving the think tank to take a tough decision. Gill, set to lead India across all formats, found himself at a delicate crossroads last December. A batsman who had re-established himself during a dream summer in England, replacing Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain, and closing in on Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I captaincy, was suddenly left out of the World Cup squad.Gill took the plunge, fulfilled his business commitments and gathered his team in Mohali. During the cold of winter, with side-armers and reliable net bowlers, he worked relentlessly on his white-ball game. Gill, known to rely heavily on volume in training, spent hours analyzing videos of his T20 outings and realized that he needed to unlock more range and power from deep cover to mid-wicket in the traditional V.Determined to change things, Gill accepted the challenge. The middler bat became his best friend, and he spent hours with it to find the right spot without losing its shape. Earlier he often seemed eager to hit the ball very 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 desired control in the traditional Vs. At times, the face of the bat would close slightly while hitting long-off and long-on, causing him to suffer a loss of height and distance.Problem identified, challenge accepted.The plan was simple. Each batting session involves hundreds of balls being bowled from a middle bat – a thinner version of a regular bat that improves control – and this routine has continued during this IPL season. Gill is regularly seen warming up with Midler before each range-hitting session. The incidents of the bat rotating in his hands or his face getting closed due to impact have reduced significantly. He is now holding his position more often and looking for a more cordial relationship.There’s a strong ping from his bat whenever he goes straight, and his superior control has made him a delight as a cameraperson this IPL season. This has been his best season in terms of strike-rate and six-hitting, yet he has never looked to compromise the strong foundation of his batting. There are hardly any ramps, scoops or paddles – just textbook batting with extensive range.

File photo of Shubman Gill in the nets. (screenshot/x)

Against the spinners, he has used different sweeps effectively, but without any premeditation, which has helped him retain his elegance and grace. And the numbers don’t lie. In IPL 2026, in 13 matches, he has scored 616 runs at a strike rate of 161.68, his highest in the tournament.Like his approach towards life, Gill keeps his batting simple as well.The hours spent with his team in Mohali not only helped him re-develop his T20 game but also gave him a chance to settle down after a turbulent few months. Away from the limelight, home-cooked meals behind the nets brought back simpler times – while preparing him for better days ahead.