Is Brand Shubman bruised or ruptured?

YES, BUT...

- SANDEEP GOYAL

Three to four years ago, we approached Shubman Gill for an endorsement deal.

His contract, even back then, had a clause that specifically stated that if he were to be named India captain, his fees would go up significantly during the agreed contract period. Having seen, and signed, tens of celebrity contracts over the years, the clause seemed kind of surprising and unusual. One was not sure if it signalled genuine self-belief and self-confidence, or whether Gill (and his handlers) had got a bit too influenced and carried away by all the media hype surrounding him as the next big thing after Virat Kohli.

But Brand Shubman Gill recently took a severe hit when he got dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad due to a significant slump in form in T20 Internationals, scoring only 291 runs in 15 innings in 2025 without a 50 (averaging 24.25, strike rate 137.26, highest score 47). The selectors prioritised explosive openers and wicketkeeper-batsmen like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, viewing Gill as an anchor struggling for runs in a format demanding higher strike rates, despite his proven quality in Tests and ODIs.