20 Aug 2025 : The first name that chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar took while announcing India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad was of Shubman Gill’s. He also added the word vice-captain after taking Gill’s name before going on to reveal the other 14 members of the side. The first question that captain Suryakumar Yadav was asked in the press conference was also about Shubman Gill and his return as vice-captain in the T20I side after more than a year. Agarkar knew it, Suryakumar knew it and so did pretty much everyone else following Indian cricket. Shubman Gill was the centre point of the selection meeting and its announcement, which was delayed by close to 90 minutes due to inclement weather conditions in Mumbai.
Gill’s selection or the opposite would make headlines. And so it did. Both Agarkar and Surya made it crystal clear that Gill, despite not being a part of India’s T20I side since July last year, was always an integral part of the set-up, but what they didn’t reveal for obvious reasons was the fact that he was not the first choice as the team’s vice captain.
According to a report in The Indian Express, Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup came after considerable deliberation. The selection panel initially weighed other options, including all-rounder Axar Patel. However, the selectors eventually chose to back Gill for the long term, viewing him as a key figure in India’s future leadership structure.
The selection meeting, held on Tuesday, was dominated by discussions around the vice-captaincy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir joined the meeting virtually and supported the decision to invest in a younger player who could be groomed as a future captain.
Gill, who currently leads India in Test cricket, was brought back into the T20I setup for the first time this year. He is expected to feature in the playing XI during the tournament in the UAE from September 9 to 28. His selection meant Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite an impressive start to his international career and a strong England tour, had to miss out.
Summary:
A report claims Ajit Agarkar initially had another preference for Asia Cup vice-captain, but Gautam Gambhir, joining online, strongly supported Shubman Gill for the role.