Shubman Gill has wasted no time responding to his T20 World Cup snub, hitting the nets hard at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali as he prepares for both domestic cricket and his upcoming role as India’s ODI captain. The 26-year-old was dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad after a poor run in the format, scoring just 291 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.25. Now, he is focused on proving himself again through intense training sessions and representing Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before leading India in the ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11.

Intense batting sessions at Mohali

Videos from Gill’s training sessions at the PCA Stadium in Mohali show the right-handed batter playing majestic shots across both sides of the wicket, appearing determined to fine-tune his technique. Eyewitnesses at the nets observed him working on sweeps, lofted shots and power-hitting, signaling his intent to move past the disappointment and prepare for a heavy schedule in 2026.

The intense batting sessions demonstrate Gill’s commitment to regaining form and confidence after what has been a difficult period in T20 cricket. By training hard in domestic conditions and focusing on technical adjustments, he is sending a strong message that he remains hungry to succeed at the highest level.

Vijay Hazare Trophy commitment

Gill has committed to playing for Punjab in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, which kicked off on December 25. Although he was named in the Punjab squad, he did not feature in their opening match—a 51-run victory over Maharashtra at the Anantam Ground in Jaipur. Fans are eagerly awaiting his tournament debut, which could come in Punjab’s next fixture against Chhattisgarh on Friday, December 26 in Jaipur.

Playing domestic cricket will give Gill valuable match practice and help him maintain sharpness ahead of his return to international duty as ODI captain. It also shows his willingness to do the hard yards at the domestic level rather than simply waiting for the next international assignment.​

What went wrong in T20Is

Gill’s T20 World Cup omission came after a lean patch that began when he was brought back into the T20I team during the Asia Cup earlier in 2025. His return to the format after more than a year came on the back of his impressive performances in the England Test series, where he was the top scorer. The selectors decided to call him into the T20I setup and he replaced Sanju Samson in the opening slot, a move that drew widespread criticism given Samson’s impressive performances at the position.

However, Gill’s T20I comeback turned out to be a poor one. In 15 innings, he managed just 291 runs at an average of 24.25, with no significant scores to justify his place in the side. His below-par performance forced the BCCI selectors to perform a U-turn, dropping him from both the New Zealand T20I series and the T20 World Cup squad, and reinstating Samson in his place.​

ODI captaincy and future schedule

Despite his T20 struggles, Gill remains a key player in India’s ODI setup and will lead the team in the three-match series against New Zealand starting January 11, 2026. This will be an important opportunity for him to showcase his leadership skills and cement his position as India’s long-term ODI captain in the post-Rohit Sharma era.

Gill’s focus now is on using the Vijay Hazare Trophy and his intense training sessions to regain confidence and form before taking charge of the ODI team. With the Champions Trophy and other major tournaments on the horizon, he will be determined to prove that his T20 setback was only temporary and that he remains one of India’s finest batting talents across formats.