In response to Shubman Gill‘s selection as India’s T20I vice-captain for the 2025 Asia Cup, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar expressed his opinion that the selection will assist mould the young player into the nation’s future all-format leader.
The decision to include Gill in the T20I lineup with captain Suryakumar Yadav was hailed by Gavaskar, who said it was a testament to Gill’s maturity and recent exceptional play. The 25-year-old will start the series fresh off a stellar Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where he was the best run scorer with 754 runs in five games. He has an average of 30.42 in T20Is.
It was just a few weeks ago that he scored more than 750 runs. A player in that form cannot be excluded. Giving him the vice-captaincy is another method to let him know that he might eventually be in charge of the T20 team. “It’s a really, really good choice,” Gavaskar told India Today.
After being excluded from the T20I format since June 2024, Gill is making a comeback.
Recalling how he led a second-string Indian team in Zimbabwe after last year’s T20 World Cup victory, the 76-year-old again emphasised Gill’s character. The fact that Gill, who now leads the Indian Test team, succeeds Axar Patel as vice-captain of the T20I team further demonstrates the selectors’ confidence in his cross-format leadership skills.
“He was equally impressive in England.” He demonstrated his ability to handle pressure by scoring more than 750 runs while captaining the team for the first time. He is destined to lead India in the future, as evidenced by his appointment as vice captain, Gavaskar continued.
Pakistan vs. India on September 14
India’s roster selection for the 2025 Asia Cup, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, has already sparked discussions and controversy. On September 10, the Men in Blue will play the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai. On September 14, they will play the much awaited match versus Pakistan. On September 19, in Abu Dhabi, they will play Oman in their last group-stage match.
A selection conundrum has been brought on by Gill’s presence at the top order, as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma have all made compelling arguments with their performances in his place. Choosing the starting lineup for the tournament opener will be a critical challenge for the team management, who want to start off on a strong and upbeat note.
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