Shubman Gill

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill en route his century in the Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh last week. Pics/AFP

Then India’s T20 vice-captain not making the T20 World Cup squad due to poor form was a massive talking point. But the right-hander responded in style, scoring consistently and averaging 45.75 in 16 games (732 runs), including six half-centuries and one century. The opener’s best knock of the season came in the high-pressure Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals, where the Gujarat Titans skipper smashed a match-winning 104 off just 53 balls to help GT chase their highest-ever target of 215. The opener struck at 163.03 — his best strike-rate in any IPL season — and will definitely make the selectors think before announcing the squad for the Ireland and England T20Is.