Shubman Gill’s T20 puzzle: If not now, then when?

Will Shubman Gill never become India’s T20 captain? Will his outstanding IPL performances — both as a batter and as a captain — not count enough to bring him back into contention for the leadership role in India’s T20 side in the near future? Has taking his team to an IPL final not strengthened his case to eventually become India’s all-format captain?

As recently as last September, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had backed Gill to open the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma in the Asia Cup. But did a lean run in just four matches suddenly turn him into an unsuitable T20 player? More importantly, why is Gill being judged so harshly when India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav has also struggled for consistency with the bat in recent times?

With a member of the selection committee still backing Shubman Gill, even as others continue to question whether he has what it takes in T20 cricket, the young batter would do well to focus on cementing his place in India’s ODI and Test sides before worrying about a return to the T20 setup.

In the meantime, the Indian team management and selectors appear convinced that the likes of Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson can shoulder the responsibility. If one of the newly appointed leaders settles into the role and delivers consistent results, Gill’s path back into the T20 leadership conversation could become even more complicated.

For now, the challenge before Gill is straightforward: keep scoring heavily in Tests and ODIs, continue growing as a leader, and force the selectors to revisit the debate. But if India’s new T20 captain establishes himself successfully, how does Gill find his way back into the reckoning? That is the question only time can answer.

Meanwhile, Gill has responded to his critics in the best possible manner — with performances. The way he has batted and led his side has once again highlighted why he remains one of Indian cricket’s most promising leaders.

With a packed international calendar and many of India’s T20 assignments likely to overlap with ODI and Test commitments, the national selectors can hardly afford to think in terms of a single captain for all formats. The need for multiple leaders is becoming increasingly evident.

Yet, when squads such as the one for the Asian Games are discussed, Gill’s name is often missing from the conversation. Does that mean the Punjab batter is considered good enough only for the IPL and not for India? That would be an unfair conclusion.

The reality is that Gill remains a key figure in India’s long-term plans, particularly in Tests and ODIs. Whether he eventually re-enters the T20 setup as a player, captain, or both will depend on how the team evolves over the next year or two. But to suggest that his credentials begin and end with the IPL would be doing a disservice to a cricketer who is already among India’s most accomplished young stars.