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Gill wasn't Agarkar's first choice for Asia Cup vice-captain, but Gambhir reportedly swung it his way: Is this a risky move?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors created a heated debate in the Indian cricketing circles with their bold move of not only bringing Shubman Gill back into the T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025, the 25-year-old has also been made the vice-captain, replacing Axar Patel. Indian Test team captain Gill is now breathing down T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav's neck, and if he continues his meteoric rise, it would only be a matter of time before he replaces SKY at the helm in the shortest format.
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However, what's interesting here is that Gill wasn't the first choice of the Indian cricket team selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar. Reportedly, the selectors had other names in mind for the vice-captain slot, including that of incumbent Axar Patel.
Gambhir helps Gill become India T20 vice-captain
As per a report in the Indian Express, the selection meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Tuesday spent most of its time on whether Gill should be picked and made the vice-captain. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who joined the meeting through an online medium, played a big role in swinging the verdict in Gill's favour.
'It was the matter that consumed most of the time at Tuesday's selection meeting and head coach Gautam Gambhir, who joined online, was also of the view that India needs to groom someone for the future and Gill, who turns 26 next month, was the most eligible candidate,' the Indian Express report said.
'Gill wasn't the first choice initially and some people felt that Axar Patel should continue the role of vice-captaincy. But the overall mood at the selection meeting was that it's better to invest in a player who is likely to serve Indian cricket for long.'
Also Read | Shubman Gill's T20I elevation lays bare BCCI's long-term vision as India cricket seek next superstar
After the selection panel couldn't find any better alternative, it decided to pick Gill, the report added.
'The panel couldn't find any other candidate whom they can hand over responsibility for the next five years. As Gill is already leading in Test cricket, the selectors felt it was a right time to prepare him to take over from Surya some time in the future.'
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What other options BCCI had?
While it's true that Gill showcased incredible leadership skills in the five-match Test series in England, helping India secure a 2-2 draw despite the recent retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, it's also true that Axar Patel has consistently done well for India in the T20Is, especially since 2023.
Also, the BCCI selectors had the option of bringing in Shreyas Iyer, who was India's highest run-getter in the victorious Champions Trophy 2025 campaign and also helped Punjab Kings reach the final of the Indian Premier League (2025). Iyer also won the IPL last year with the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Yashasvi Jaiswal could also have been an option. Jaiswal was part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2024 and has much better figures than Jaiswal in the T20Is.
By picking Gill as T20I vice-captain, the selectors have indicated that he could be the next all-format captain, but it's also a risky proposition to put all your eggs in one basket in a highly competitive cricket era where the scheduling is becoming extremely dense.
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