Shubman Gill is banking on his stay with new Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans in the 2022 season to unlock doors into India’s T20I set-up ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia in October-November.
The elegant Indian opener is yet to make his T20I debut for India but thinks that could change in the coming months if he ticks the right boxes with Titans and plays a crucial role in their push towards a maiden Premier League trophy.
“I feel as a player what’s most important for me is to do my job well for the team (Gujarat Titans), and I think if I am able to do well, then it is also doing well for myself.
And if we (GT) go on to play the playoffs and reach the final, I might get a chance to play for India in WT20,”
he told PTI.
Emerging as one of India’s brightest young talents with the ICC U19 World Cup back in 2018, Gill has gone on to represent the country at the international stage in 10 Tests and three ODIs. But the 22-year-old is yet to make his T20I debut for India.
Partly due to stiff competition and partly because of an underdeveloped power-hitting game, Gill’s T20I debut has remained elusive. He has played 58 matches in the IPL with 1,417 at a decent average of 31.48 but a low-key strike-rate of 123.
Gill wasn’t retained by two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction but found trust in his promise and ability in the Titans’ camp. The new franchise signed him up for INR 8 Crores, locking him as their designated Indian opener at the top. Notably, he did show reasonable signs of improved power-hitting skills and intent in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.
Titans will be hoping that he can take his upskilled game to the next level for them and have a bumper season that helps them go all the way. Led by Hardik Pandya, they kick-off their campaign against fellow new entrants Lucknow Super Giants on March 28.
