Why Gill was appointed as vice captain [Source: @prateek_295/X.Com]
The India squad for the Champions trophy 2025 has finally been released and the team doesn't have any major changes, barring one. Mohammed Siraj, the star pacer was not picked in the side which came as a surprise for many. However, on the flip side, Jasprit Bumrah is back and has been drafted in the India squad.
Apart from Bumrah and Siraj, there has also been another significant shift in the squad and that is the appointment of Shubman Gill as the vice-captain for the Champions Trophy. There was Hardik Pandya, there was Bumrah, but the selectors went ahead with the youngster as the squad was unveiled.
Many people have been questioning this decision, but the selectors have a method to this madness and here's the reason why Shubman Gill was appointed ahead of others.
3) India looking at the future
It seems as if the team management is looking at the future. Both Bumrah and Hardik are in their 30s, and team India is perhaps looking at a younger long-term replacement for Rohit Sharma's captaincy. Gill's game has certainly got better and he also has captaincy experience, as the opener currently leads Gujarat Titans in IPL. Hence, Gill's name was selected. He is in the prime of his career and has at-least 10 years of cricket left in him.
2) Gill has delivered in ODIs and got the reward
Unlike Tests and T20Is, Gill has delivered excellent performances in ODIs and has cracked the format with ease. Alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, he was India's best ODI player in 2023, and delivered the goods on a consistent basis.
As a result, the management has decided to reward him with the vice-captaincy role for the Champions Trophy.
1) Other options are injury prone
The other long-term captaincy options are Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. However, both the players are in their 30s, and unlike Gill, they both are injury prone.
Bumrah is included in the India squad, but there is still doubts on his match-fitness, and the same goes with Hardik. He is fragile and has a track record of getting injured in crucial junctures. Hence, instead of relying on experience, Team India is planning to look at someone who can lead the team for the next 5 years minimum.