Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his views on Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s T20I vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, noting that the choice will assist build the kid into a future all-format leader for the country.
Gavaskar applauded the selectors for putting Gill in the T20I squad with captain Suryakumar Yadav,
characterising the decision as a recognition of Gill’s maturity and exceptional performance as a player in recent years.
The 25-year-old has a T20I average of 30.42 and comes into the series fresh off a spectacular Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, in which he scored 754 runs in five matches.
“He scored over 750 runs just a couple of weeks ago. You cannot exclude a player in that kind of form. Giving him the vice-captaincy is also a way of telling him that in the future, he could be leading the T20 side. I think it’s a very, very good selection,” Gavaskar said to India Today.
“He was very impressive in England as well. To score 750-plus runs while leading the side for the first time shows how well he handled pressure. This vice-captaincy is a clear sign that he is destined to lead India in the future,” Gavaskar added.
IND vs PAK on September 14
The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28, with India’s squad selection already sparking controversies and debates. The Men in Blue will begin their campaign against the hosts UAE in Dubai on September 10, followed by the much-anticipated clash with Pakistan on September 14. Their final group-stage fixture will be against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
Gill’s inclusion at the top order has sparked a selection dilemma, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma all making strong cases through their performances in his absence. The team management will face a crucial task in finalizing the best XI for the tournament opener, aiming to set a confident and positive tone from the start.
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