Gill Says He Has Nothing to Prove Ahead of IPL 2026, Focused on Team Success
AHMEDABAD — Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill said he is not feeling any pressure heading into the 2026 Indian Premier League season, emphasizing that his priority remains helping his team win another title rather than chasing individual milestones.
Gill, who also leads India in Tests and ODIs, was recently left out of the T20I squad to make room for Sanju Samson at the top of the order — a move that ultimately paid off as India secured a record third Men’s T20 World Cup title earlier this month at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
“Not at all. I think, if you look at the past three or four seasons, I have the most runs in IPL. So, I don’t think I have anything to prove, in this season particularly. The four years that I’ve played for this team, I think we have done decently well as a team, and I think I’ve done decently well as a batsman.
“So, I don’t think I need to prove my worth to anyone. I think I need to do what I’ve been doing for the past four years. As a team, we need to be consistent, which I think we have been. If we continue doing that, sooner or later, I think we will win that trophy once more,” Gill said during a pre-season press conference.
The right-handed batter, who took over as Gujarat Titans captain in 2024, also criticized the IPL’s Impact Player rule, arguing that it reduces the overall skill required in the game. His comments came a day after attending a captains and managers meeting in Mumbai, where it was confirmed the rule will remain in place through the 2027 season.
“Personally, for me, I don’t think there should be an Impact Player rule. I think cricket in general is an 11-player game, and on the wickets and grounds that we play, adding an extra batter takes the skill out of the game. There is a certain skill in the game that you need to have, and when you know when you have a certain number of batters and if a couple of your batters get out, there is a certain amount of skill that you need to have to still get the scoreboard moving and get your team to a good score.
“I think with that one extra player, it’s making the game more one-dimensional, and it’s taking a little bit of the skill out of the game. Chasing 180 or 160 on a challenging wicket is, for me personally, way more exciting than chasing 220 on a flat wicket.
“So, I mean, it’s gonna be there till 2027 — it’s something that we also spoke about in the captain’s meeting yesterday. I understand it makes the game a bit more entertaining, but let’s see if it’s up to them and what the BCCI is going to take a decision on this. But personally, I don’t like it that much,” he added.
Gill reiterated that he does not set personal performance targets, saying his focus is always on team success, whether playing for Gujarat Titans or India.
“Honestly, I am not the one to look too much into personal goals, whatever team I am playing for, whether it be for my country or for Gujarat.
“The team that I am playing for — I like them to win, and that is where my personal goal starts, and that’s where it ends. So, for me, I think the goal doesn’t change — make my team win as many matches as possible. Obviously, as a team, if you are playing in the IPL, you are playing to win it.
“If you are playing a series, you are looking to beat the other teams in the series, so those are the goals that I look forward to, and I don’t really have my personal goals. Like right now, it’s obvious to win the IPL. Once that ends, obviously, we are going to have some other tournaments within the team. So my personal goals would change into that, and that’s how I like to look at my goals.” (Source: IANS)
