Sunil Gavaskar Defends Shubman Gill (Source: @JYajashvi/x.com, @Vipintiwari952/x.com)
After Team India announced its star-studded squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, controversies have arisen with some potential inclusions and exclusions. Among all, Shubman Gill’s appointment as Team India’s vice-captain raised eyebrows.
The Indian Test skipper has faced backlashes over his T20I form. Amidst this, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his weight behind Shubman Gill’s appointment, calling it a smart move with an eye on the future.
Gavaskar Backs Gill’s Inclusion As Vice Captain
After a brilliant Test series on English soil, Team India shifted its focus to the limited-overs format as the Asia Cup 2025 approaches. As the team management announced the squad for the marquee tournament, Shubman Gill has been appointed as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy. However, the decision has stirred debate, with critics questioning Gill’s T20I strike rate despite his promising current form.
As the buzz swirled around Gill’s new role, former Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar backed the batter. Speaking to India Today, he agreed with management’s decision, describing it as a fitting reward for Gill’s recent exploits.
“He scored over 750 runs just a couple of weeks ago. You cannot exclude a player in that kind of form. Giving him the vice-captaincy is also a way of telling him that in the future, he could be leading the T20 side. I think it’s a very, very good selection,” Gavaskar said.
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Gavaskar Applauds Gill’s Grit
Captaining in Tests for the first time is never easy, and Shubman Gill had the added challenge of doing it in England. Showcasing his batting brilliance and exceptional cricketing brain, he led the side from the front and even ended up the series being the highest run scorer. Impressed by his calm under pressure, Sunil Gavaskar hailed Gill’s maturity, calling it a glimpse of India’s next captain in the making.
“He was very impressive in England as well. To score 750-plus runs while leading the side for the first time shows how well he handled pressure. This vice-captaincy is a clear sign that he is destined to lead India in the future,” he added.
As the Asia Cup 2025 is commencing on September 9, Shubman Gill will return in the shortest format after July 2024. As Team India starts their campaign on September 10, fans are excited to see vice-captain Shubman Gill in action.
