Shubman Gill Returns as Vice-Captain for Asia Cup 2025 Squad

The vice-captaincy of Shubman Gill, is an important component of Gill’s development as a player, as he has also returned to T20 cricket for the first time in a year. 

Gill has had a solid run in Test cricket and One Day International cricket and as a player who is representative of the future of Indian cricket, he was an important contributor in the recent Champions Trophy for the casters of India, although he hasn’t played a T20I before this due to selection timelines and the calendar for teams. 

The selectors have discussed a balance of youth and experience so Gill’s return now is just as meaningful as it is tactical in the hope that by placing Gill in a leadership role, they hope to also acknowledge his maturity, game awareness and ability to handle pressure within a young Indian cricket team. 

At 25, Gill will add some stability to the top order, and while Gill is expected to make a contribution with the bat, he is also expected to provide older player support to younger players. Gill is cool-headed and calm, and is now navigating his increasing international experience, and will certainly bring stability in the role of vice-captain and as an older partner for new T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.

The selection process however, has certainly raised eyebrows. The squad missed quite a few high profile names, namely batter and middle-order linchpin Shreyas Iyer and one of the most explosive hitters in the world at the moment in batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. Fans and former players alike have been scratching their heads as to how both players missed the cut, particularly after both had performed well on the trials that are the IPL and sadly the International cricket stage as well. The selectors have provided a somewhat dodgy rationale on the omissions, citing form and fitness and a team balance. 

There was one joy in the selections was young all-rounder Abhishek Sharma has been in the mix, the kid can bat and bowl which also brings flexibility to the mix. Selectors produced a fair bit of young pace prospects while welcoming back seasoned numbers like Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, and as it played out, plenty of new names with a fair amount of previous experience and skill surrounding them. 

India’s campaign in the Asia Cup is scheduled to tee off September, and their group stages includes a highly anticipated matchup with their bitter rivals Pakistan. The Asia Cup should serve as a decent last preparation before the T20 World Cup next year.

Shubman Gill’s vice-captaincy position has highlighted India’s aim to build a leadership core and the foundations towards continental success. With that in mind, the majority of the load will be on Gill and Suryakumar to take India through a challenging and high-expectation tournament.

India’s Squad for Asia Cup 2025

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.

Team India Full Schedule for Asia Cup 2025