Shubman Gill not only made a comeback in T20Is but also took over the vice-captaincy role from Axar Patel for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025.
Ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the team’s 15-member squad, Gill has become the main topic of discussion. The 25-year-old made his last T20I appearance in Sri Lanka back in July 2024.
Here are the five main reasons why Shubman Gill was appointed to serve as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy throughout the 17th edition of the Asia Cup held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
1. Experience as Captain and Vice-Captain in T20Is:
In a recent press conference, Suryakumar Yadav said that Shubman Gill boasts considerable experience as Team India’s captain and vice-captain in T20Is.
After the T20 World Cup 2024, Team India triumphed against Zimbabwe by 4-1 in the 5-match T20I series under Gill’s captaincy.
Moreover, he served as SKY’s deputy, where India achieved a whitewashing victory in the 3-match T20I series by 3-0 last year in July.
2. Transition Towards a Long-Term Player:
Previously, Axar served as the vice-captain for the 5-match T20I series against England and was the favorite to continue with his role in the Asia Cup as well. In other words, Shubman Gill wasn’t the first choice to take the responsibility as a vice-captain.
But, in a shocking turn of events, the in-form batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer had to miss out on a spot only to allocate the space for Gill.
After the recent meeting, it is understood that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee was keen to focus on a player who could represent India on a long-term basis. As a result, Gil emerged as the frontrunner to take over the role for the forthcoming five years.
3. Recent Form with the Bat:
Shubman Gill’s recent form in terms of batting performance has been fabulous. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain amassed 650 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50, which includes 6 fifties to his name.
Also, during the 5-match test series of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025, the right-handed batter was not only in his best form, but also proved his adaptability to bat under pressure. He scored 754 runs in 10 innings, averaging 75, having scored his maiden double centuries and 3 tons in tests.
In recent times, Gill has improved his batting skills to become the most reliable batter for the Indian cricket team. He not only played impactful knocks but also anchored his team’s innings in tough conditions.
4. Familiar Playing Conditions in the UAE:
Playing in the UAE hasn’t been anything new for Shubman Gill. He played numerous IPL seasons hosted across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Also, he was part of India’s triumphant squad led by Rohit Sharma in the Champions Trophy 2025 played in Dubai.
Considering his stats in international cricket, Gill scored 188 runs in 5 ODIs at an average of 47, which includes an unbeaten 101-run knock as his best score in the UAE.
With the Asia Cup 2025 set to take place in challenging conditions, Gill’s presence at the top order could prove to be valuable on a sluggish surface. He can easily tackle unpredictable bounce and large boundaries through his clever shot selection rather than blindly relying on aggressive strokeplay.
5. Return to the T20I Squad After a Memorable Test Captaincy Debut:
Shubman Gill’s maiden captaincy stint in test cricket turned out to be successful in the recently concluded England tour.
The Indian cricket team, led by Gill, equalled the 5-match test series with England by 2-2 after securing a hard-fought 6-run victory in the last test at the Kennington Oval.
With Gill gaining the leadership experience in the red-ball format, the hopes ignite for the selectors that this could be the right moment to groom the young cricketer to become India’s future T20I captain after SKY.
Suppose Gill opens the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma, then Team India has multiple options to experiment to fill their middle and lower-order batting, which include:
- Tilak Varma
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Hardik Pandya
- Jitesh Sharma
- Rinku Singh
- Axar Patel
- Shivam Dube
Overall Opinion
Shubman Gill’s batting style perfectly suits the playing conditions in the UAE, given his proven ability to smash boundaries through the gaps, ensure proper strike rotation, and build consistent partnerships.
As the young cricketer turns 26 this September, his participation in the forthcoming tournament could be the right choice to accelerate his journey as an all-format player. Gill, as India’s opening batter in the Asia Cup 2025, might help his team set huge totals or chase high-scoring targets under tricky situations. Following a busy schedule in Tests, Shubman’s participation in the Asia Cup 2025 helps him ensure a proper continuity in his T20I career after a one-year gap.