Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill's Test captaincy greed leads to India squad axing

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will meet on August 19 to pick the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, but it won’t be easy. Yashasvi Jaiswal might not be included in the T20I team, and including Shubman Gill might force Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson to give up their spot as opener.

India will begin the Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against the UAE before the match against Pakistan on September 14. Shubman Gill is in fine form, which might force selectors to include him. Batter Suryakumar Yadav will captain India in the tournament, but the vice-captain role might see changes.

India’s Aggressive T20I Approach under Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav

India secured the T20 World Cup 2024 under Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid. Following the victory, Gautam Gambhir was appointed as coach and Suryakumar Yadav as captain. The team adopted a more aggressive playing style.

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They accept that T20 cricket involves risks, so their batsmen like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya have been playing with an aggressive approach.

India no longer focus on having an anchor in their lineup. They rely on many powerful players who can score runs in different ways to keep pressure on the opponents. Shubman Gill last played a T20I match against Sri Lanka in July 2024.

India has remained unbeaten since the T20 World Cup 2024. They have secured series victories against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, and England. They have emerged victorious 13 times out of 15 matches.

Shubman Gill Eyes a Spot in India’s T20 Squad for Asia Cup 2025

Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal still have a chance to be included in India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025. However, Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant are not part of the current T20 plans, according to a report by the Indian Express.

Gill and Jaiswal were key players at the start of Gautam Gambhir’s coaching tenure before the focus shifted to the Abhishek Sharma–Sanju Samson opening partnership.

If Gill is selected, he would likely need a spot in the top three batting positions. Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson would have to give up their place as Suryakumar Yadav usually bats at number three in the format.

Shubman Gill’s Performance and Stats in T20 Internationals for India

Shubman Gill made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in January 2023. He has amassed 578 runs in 21 matches with an average of just over 30 and a healthy strike rate near 140.

The right-handed batter scored an unbeaten 126 runs, including 12 fours and seven sixes, against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. He has an impressive record in the Indian Premier League.

The 25-year-old batter has scored nearly 3,900 runs in 118 IPL matches with an average close to 40 and a strike rate of 138.71, including four centuries and 26 fifties. While he’s still proving his skills, he is an exciting prospect for the future of India’s limited-overs teams.

Also read: Revealed- Why Sanju Samson Is Leaving Rajasthan Royals Before IPL 2026?