Shubman Gill’s form has come back — but the role around him has changed quietly
Less anchor, more accelerator. A look at the second half of his knock against RCB and the GT tactical tweak that made it work.
Background
Shubman Gill has been in and out of the headlines since the 2023 IPL season. Inconsistent strike rates, a quiet 2025, the captaincy hand-off. By the start of 2026, the narrative around his batting had settled into a fairly grim version: a cover-drive merchant whose strike rate was not keeping up with the format.
The 2026 shift
What is happening this season is structurally different. Gill’s average is up sharply — from 38 last season to 62 this season after seven matches — and his strike rate has moved from 138 to 156. That combination is hard to achieve. Either you score faster and risk getting out, or you play longer and risk slowing down. He is doing both.
The tactical change
Three tactical shifts in the Ahmedabad XI are responsible. First, Sudharsan has been promoted to open with Gill, which has moved Gill one slot down the order and shifted the bowling attack early. Second, the Impact Player slot has been used to bring in a second specialist finisher for the back half of the innings, which means Gill no longer plays out the full twenty overs. Third, Ashish Nehra has asked him to take on the spinners earlier — a direct response to the way leg-spinners had been containing him in 2024.
The numbers
Gill has averaged 78 against pace this season (up from 48) and 56 against spin (up from 32). His false-shot rate against spin is the lowest of his career. The progression is real.
The desk verdict
Gill is a bona fide Orange Cap contender for IPL 2026, not only on runs but on strike-rate adjusted runs. The fantasy ROI follows accordingly; his name will be in our captain picks more often than not this season.
FAQs
Is Shubman Gill in form?
Yes — he is averaging 62 in IPL 2026 with a strike rate of 156.
What has changed tactically?
Three things: the batting order, the Impact Player slot, and an instruction to take on the spinners earlier.
Is Gill worth picking in fantasy?
Usually yes — he is currently a top-3 captain pick on the desk’s reads.
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