Shubman Gill Asked to Prioritize Tests and 2027 ODI World Cup, Misses India T20I Recall
The Indian selectors have reportedly told Shubman Gill to focus on Test cricket and the 2027 ODI World Cup after leaving him out of the T20I squad. Despite scoring 732 runs for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, Gill was not recalled to the T20I team.
Gill is currently India's captain in both Tests and ODIs. With a busy schedule ahead that includes nine Test matches and several ODI series before the 2027 World Cup, the selectors have asked him to concentrate on those formats and maintain his fitness for the long season.
According to news agency PTI, a source said that the selectors do not want Shubman Gill to suffer from burnout by playing all three formats regularly. With nine World Test Championship (WTC) matches and around 35 ODIs scheduled before the 2027 ODI World Cup, they want him to focus on Test and ODI cricket and manage his workload carefully.
Selectors Prioritise Gill's Workload Ahead of WTC and 2027 World Cup
The source claimed that Shubman has been asked to stay fit for the two important ICC events. It is pertinent to point out that India need to win 7 out of their 9 remaining Tests in order to fancy a chance of making it to the WTC 2025/27 final.
“The selectors are concerned that there shoudn’t be a burn-out case with Gill. Gill has to lead India in nine WTC Tests and also play around 35 odd ODIs before the start of 2027 World Cup. The communication is clear that he needs to be fit for these two ICC assignments. Plus he will play the IPL where he leads Gujarat Titans,” the report states.
Shubman Gill returned to India's T20I team during the 2025 Asia Cup, replacing Sanju Samson as the opening batter. However, he struggled to make a big impact, scoring only 291 runs in 15 T20I matches in 2025, and was dropped from the squad at the start of this year. Despite his T20I struggles, Gill has been outstanding in the IPL.
Leading Gujarat Titans, he scored 650 runs in IPL 2025 and followed it up with an even better season in 2026, amassing 732 runs. His impressive IPL performances have highlighted his quality as a batter, even though the selectors have chosen to prioritize his workload in Tests and ODIs. The source added that the BCCI wanted Gill to focus on the immediate future, while noting there were two years left for the T20 World Cup 2028 and the LA28 Olympics.
“There is still a lot of time left for the two marquee T20 events in 2028. For Gill, the focus is on the immediate future. Two years from now, no one knows which player will be in what kind of form and fitness. So this is the plan till 2027 ODI World Cup,” the source added.