Shubman Gill is expected to be named India’s vice-captain for the upcoming T20 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates, according to a RevSportz report. The tournament begins on September 9, with India starting their campaign a day later against the hosts in Dubai.
Gill, who stood in as captain of India’s Test side on the recent tour of England, last featured in T20 internationals in late July 2024, when India faced Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Since then, the opening roles have been energetically filled by Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, who offered depth and dynamism throughout the series.
Re-entry into the T20 fold, then, brings Gill not just experience but an elevated role. Surpassing the familiarity curve is one thing; initiating the innings while guiding the side from the front is another. Should captain Suryakumar Yadav’s expected fitness timeline hold, Gill’s dual-function as opener and vice-captain could offer the batting order a stabilising anchor as well as the tactical foresight necessarily once the group stage of the tournament begins.
Gill’s case for a T20I comeback has been helped by his consistent IPL performances. He has scored 578 runs in T20 internationals at a strike rate of 139.27, which adds weight to the idea that he should be part of the squad. A BCCI source told PTI that Gill “should walk into any T20 squad despite a stupendous show by Samson and Abhishek.”
The discussion around Gill’s leadership potential extends beyond T20Is. Social media chatter has linked him to the ODI captaincy after Rohit Sharma, though such a change might not happen until after the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. Rohit, who recently led India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, now plays exclusively in ODIs.
India’s present T20I roster reflects a pronounced imprint of IPL-derived expertise. Complementing veterans, the ensemble incorporates Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, and the increasingly prolific Hardik Pandya. Such a reservoir of talent has intensified the race for selection, rendering even veteran Test specialists vulnerable to omission.
For the Asia Cup, India will play Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19 in the group stage. The top two teams from each group will move to the Super Fours, setting up a possible India-Pakistan rematch before the final on September 28.
Should the information prove accurate, the prospect of Gill’s reinstatement injects additional complexity into a competition already defined by significant consequence.
The more critical consideration, however, centers on the duration implied by the decision: whether Gill’s engagement constitutes a temporary fix or indicates the inauguration of an extended period of elevated responsibility within his professional trajectory.
