Overlooked Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer Eye Redemption in GT vs PBKS IPL 2026 Opener
Mullanpur, March 30, 2026 – Two of India’s most talented yet often overlooked T20I batters, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, will lead Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) respectively as they clash in the IPL 2026 season opener in Mullanpur on Tuesday. Both captains are eager to make a statement, not just for their franchises, but also for their international aspirations.
Shubman Gill: Rising as a Leader and Top-Order Force
Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill, India’s Test and ODI captain, enters IPL 2026 at a pivotal phase of his T20 career. Despite being named T20I vice-captain, he was left out of India’s ICC T20 World Cup squad to accommodate Sanju Samson, even as India won a record third T20 World Cup.
Since 2023, only Virat Kohli has outscored Gill in the IPL, but the focus has shifted from consistency to strike rate. With a career T20 strike rate of around 138, Gill ended last season above 155, a metric he aims to improve further under the guidance of new batting coach Matthew Hayden, whose expertise in power-hitting could enhance Gill’s six-hitting prowess at the top.
With Hardik Pandya having exited after IPL 2023, GT now revolves around Gill’s leadership. Paired with Sai Sudharsan, last season’s top scorer with 759 runs, the Titans boast a formidable opening pair. Sudharsan returns from a rib injury in fine domestic form, including an unbeaten 101 and multiple fifties. Additionally, emerging talent Kumar Kushagra, with a strike rate over 160 and an average above 60 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, provides depth and flexibility in the middle order.
Shreyas Iyer: Leading PBKS from the Front
For Punjab Kings, the spotlight will again be on skipper Shreyas Iyer, a proven IPL leader who has taken three different teams to finals – Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and PBKS last season. Despite his consistent performances in the IPL, Iyer has largely been overlooked at the international level, having last played a T20I in December 2023 and missing out on major tournaments such as the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.
Last season, Iyer scored 604 runs at a strike rate of over 175, the highest among the top-10 run-getters. Punjab’s strength lies in their explosive Indian core, with openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya having scored a combined 1,024 runs last season at a strike rate near 169. However, their form in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has raised questions ahead of the opener.
The middle order – including Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, and Suryansh Shedge – will play a key role, particularly against Gujarat’s spin attack led by Rashid Khan. PBKS also welcome a new No. 3, Australian Cooper Connolly, replacing Josh Inglis. Connolly will initially play as a specialist batter while managing a back issue, per Cricket Australia guidelines.
High Stakes in Mullanpur
Both franchises have reasons to prove themselves from the first ball. GT, champions in their debut season in 2022 and consistently strong since, aim to continue their top-tier performance with a largely retained squad of 20 players. PBKS, despite reaching the final last year, had a poor home record with only two wins in five matches at New Chandigarh.
The opener is expected to set the tone for the season, as two captains with something to prove – Gill seeking a strong T20 impact and Iyer looking for redemption on the national stage – clash in a high-octane start to IPL 2026.
