New Delhi: Shubman Gill has responded firmly to critics ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League, saying his consistent run scoring over the past few years speaks for itself.
The 26 year old batter, who currently captains Gujarat Titans, said he does not feel the need to prove anything to anyone after emerging as one of the most consistent performers in the league over the last four seasons.
Since 2022, Gill has accumulated 2449 runs in the IPL at an impressive average of 46.2 and a strike rate of 149.78. His tally is the highest in the league during this period. The only player close to him in terms of total runs is Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who has scored 2378 runs in the same timeframe.
Gill also compared favourably with other Indian T20 batters competing for national team spots. Abhishek Sharma has scored 1575 runs with a higher strike rate, while Sanju Samson has accumulated 1636 runs and Ishan Kishan has registered 1546 runs in the league during that period.
Speaking ahead of the new season, Gill emphasised that his performances over the last several years demonstrate his value as a batter. He also pointed out that the team has performed consistently during his time with the franchise.
Despite his strong IPL record, Gill was left out of India’s T20 World Cup squad and also lost his place as an opener in the national T20 side earlier this year after not fully capitalising on opportunities.
Apart from his role as a batter, Gill will also face expectations as captain of Gujarat Titans. The franchise enjoyed remarkable success by winning the IPL title in its debut season, but has not managed to replicate that achievement since the departure of former captain Hardik Pandya.
Gill remains optimistic about the team’s future, saying that consistent performances will eventually bring another IPL trophy to the franchise.
