Iyer and Gill return with a point to prove after T20I exile

Two of the IPL’s most consistent performers, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, enter IPL 2026 with renewed focus after unexpectedly drifting out of India’s T20I plans.

Both players were among the standout performers in IPL 2025. Iyer enjoyed a stellar campaign, scoring 604 runs at a striking rate of 175 while leading his side to the final and securing a title in recent seasons. Gill, meanwhile, continued his remarkable consistency, amassing 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87, maintaining his position as the leading run-scorer in the IPL since 2020.

Despite those numbers, neither has been a regular in India’s T20I setup in recent months. Gill featured in 15 T20Is after IPL 2025 but struggled to convert starts, failing to register a half-century. Increased competition from aggressive top-order options like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan pushed him down the pecking order.

Iyer’s absence has been even more pronounced. He has not played a T20 match since the IPL 2025 final, owing to a combination of injuries and limited opportunities in India’s middle-order setup.

Now leading their respective franchises—Punjab Kings for Iyer and Gujarat Titans for Gill—the duo have a fresh opportunity to reassert their credentials in the shortest format.

While both players have little left to prove in franchise cricket, IPL 2026 represents more than just another season. It is a chance to reclaim relevance on the international T20 stage.

For their teams, their form could be decisive. For Iyer and Gill, it could shape the next phase of their careers.