The build-up to the Asia Cup 2025 has seen India make some bold calls in selection with Shubman Gill returning to the T20I squad as vice-captain. The 25-year-old has already taken charge of India's Test team and was among the standout performers in the recent England series.
Now with leadership responsibilities in two formats, Gill is clearly being groomed as a long-term face of Indian cricket. But his elevation has not come without debate.
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Robin Uthappa questions Shubman Gill's inclusion in T20Is
Former India batter Robin Uthappa has suggested that Gill's selection as T20I vice-captain reflects more than just cricketing decisions.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he argued that the selectors may have created "an issue" by pushing Gill into the T20 setup despite him not being a natural fit for the format.
"They have caused an issue for themselves by bringing Shubman into this whole process of including him in T20 cricket. But I also think from an Indian cricket perspective, at all kinds of eras, you have always had superstars and they have backed a particular player for the sake of Indian cricket, and I think that narrative is continued to be followed right now," said Uthappa.
According to Uthappa, Indian cricket has historically backed certain "superstars" to lead eras and Gill is being positioned in the same way. He added that beyond cricketing merit, commercial and marketing considerations often play a role in such decisions.
Gill’s return as an opener likely pairs him with Abhishek Sharma which leaves Sanju Samson's place uncertain. Uthappa noted that if Samson is pushed into a middle-order role, it may not suit him at this stage of his career.
He pointed out that while Samson did bat in the middle order early on in domestic cricket, shifting now would be far tougher.
Gill’s promotion signals how strongly the BCCI views him as a future all-format captain - potentially succeeding Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. For now, his role in the T20 setup will be closely watched - both for his performance and how it affects India's team balance heading into the Asia Cup.