Yardbarker
x

Shubman Gill Reportedly Set to Be India’s Vice-Captain in Asia Cup Despite Not Playing T20Is for a Year

Originally posted on FirstSportz  |  By Siddhartha Roy  |  Last updated Aug 10, 2025 5:19 PM ET

After a successful tour to England as India’s new Test captain, Shubman Gill is reportedly set to be appointed as the new T20I vice-captain for the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup. Gill is expected to take over the role from Axar Patel before the tournament begins next month.

Shubman Gill led the Indian Test side to a hard-fought 2-2 draw against England. He impressed not only with his leadership abilities but also with his batting performance, scoring 754 runs in ten innings, which included a double century and three centuries. While Gill’s ascension to the captaincy, following Rohit Sharma‘s retirement, was a surprise, his performance quickly silenced all doubters.

After this successful start to his captaincy stint with the national team, the Punjab-born batter is now expected to take on a new leadership role in India’s T20I setup, ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup. The Asia Cup, scheduled to be played in the UAE, starts on September 9, with the Indian team beginning its title defense against hosts UAE, followed by a match against arch-rivals Pakistan, and then against Oman.

The BCCI selection committee is expected to meet soon to finalize the squad and strategy for the Asia Cup. Shubman Gill is anticipated to make his return to the T20I squad next month and could be elevated to the position of vice-captain.

His performance in England has opened up many new opportunities for him, and is now poised to take over as Suryakumar Yadav‘s deputy, a role that Axar Patel was appointed to after the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Moreover, Gill’s selection would mark his return to the T20I squad after a one-year absence, as he has not played a single match in the shortest format for India since July 2024. His last T20I appearance was against Sri Lanka on July 30 at the Pallekele International Stadium, where he top-scored for the Men in Blue, hitting 39 runs off 37 deliveries, to help the team post a 137-run target.

Since that match, Shubman Gill focused more on improving his skills in Tests and ODIs. He was not part of India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup squad and also missed subsequent series against Bangladesh, South Africa, and England. However, Gill’s strong performance in the 2025 IPL season, where he scored 650 runs in 15 matches for Gujarat Titans, has strengthened his case for a return to the squad.

Meanwhile, the T20I vice-captaincy is also being viewed as a stepping stone for the young Indian captain, who is eventually expected to take over as India’s full-time captain across all formats. He is even being tipped to lead the side in the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, succeeding Rohit Sharma.

What Will Be Shubman Gill’s Batting Position in India’s Playing XI for the Asia Cup?

Amid strong rumors that Shubman Gill will make his return to India’s T20I squad for the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup, his inclusion could present a major dilemma for head coach Gautam Gambhir regarding his batting position. Gill primarily plays as an opener in white-ball cricket.

While Shubman Gill’s return is a boost for the Indian side, it raises questions about where he will fit into the batting lineup. For the opening spot, he faces stiff competition from the in-form duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who have opened the innings since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ’s retirement, as well as others like Yashasvi Jaiswal , KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Sai Sudharsan.

Further down the order, it becomes even more challenging to fit Gill into the batting lineup. The Indian Test captain could also face a tough challenge for the number three and four spots, with Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer , Riyan Parag, and Rajat Patidar also vying for a place.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.