Shubman Gill’s captaincy credentials received a massive boost after former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif publicly called him the best captain of IPL 2026.
The timing of the praise has become even more significant considering Gill was dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad just a few months ago, and now India are reportedly looking for a new captain for the T20I team.
“For me, Shubman Gill is this IPL’s best captain” – Mohammad Kaif
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif was full of praise for Shubman Gill after the Gujarat Titans sealed another commanding win in IPL 2026 over CSK to strengthen their position near the top of the points table.
Kaif highlighted Gill’s bowling management and tactical understanding as the biggest reasons behind the Gujarat Titans’ consistency this season.
“For me Shubman Gill is this IPL’s best captain. The sign of a great captain is how he uses his bowlers. His bowlers have taken 108 wickets in 14 games. RCB, PBKS, SRH, RR, CSK have been dismissed by GT bowlers. Gill asks his bowlers to stick to Test match line and length. Gill plays correct cricket – has great batting technique and knows how to use his bowlers,” Kaif wrote on X.
For me Shubman Gill is this IPL’s best captain. The sign of a great captain is how he uses his bowlers. His bowlers have taken 108 wickets in 14 games. RCB, PK, SRH, RR, CSK have been dismissed by GT bowlers, Gill asks his bowlers to stick to Test match line and length. Gill…
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 21, 2026
The praise comes after the Gujarat Titans completely dominated the Chennai Super Kings in Match 66 of IPL 2026. GT secured an emphatic 89-run win and moved to 18 points from 14 matches with a strong net run rate of 0.695.
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Shubman Gill dominates IPL 2026 as captain
Gill’s captaincy throughout the tournament has looked calm, controlled, and tactically sharp, and the Gujarat Titans emerged as one of the most balanced teams of IPL 2026.
After 14 league games, GT registered nine wins and only five defeats while consistently remaining inside the top two positions on the points table. Their bowling attack has especially dominated teams throughout the season.
Gill’s individual captaincy numbers are equally impressive. Since taking over the GT captaincy in 2024, Gill has led the franchise in 40 matches, winning 23 and losing 17 games. His win percentage stands at an impressive 57.5.
The Indian batter has also evolved massively as a leader during IPL 2026. At the same time, Gill has continued contributing heavily with the bat while handling leadership responsibilities.
Why was Shubman Gill dropped from India’s T20I squad?
Despite his success in IPL 2026, Shubman Gill actually found himself dropped from India’s T20I setup ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. The BCCI officially announced his omission in December, after a prolonged lean patch in T20 Internationals.
Gill struggled badly for consistency in the format and failed to register a single half-century across 18 consecutive T20I innings. In his last 15 matches before being dropped, he scored only 291 runs at an average of 24.35.
India’s team management also wanted a far more aggressive approach at the top of the order. However, IPL 2026 may have completely changed the conversation again. Gill’s consistency as a batter, combined with his tactical growth as captain, has once again pushed him into India’s long-term T20 leadership discussions.
