Asia Cup 2025: 'Clear sign that he is destined to lead India' - Gill receives praise amid T20I vice-captaincy

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar has shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s T20I vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, stating that the decision will help shape the youngster into a future all-format leader for the country.

Gavaskar praised the selectors for including Gill in the T20I setup alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav, describing the move as a recognition of Gill’s maturity and outstanding display as a player in recent times. The 25-year-old holds an average of 30.42 in the T20Is, and will enter into the series on the back of a brilliant Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where he was the highest run-getter with 754 runs in five matches.

“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 to India Today.

The 76-year-old also highlighted Gill’s temperament, recalling how he successfully led a second-string Indian side in Zimbabwe following last year’s T20 World Cup triumph. Gill’s return to the T20I setup comes after being left out of the format since June 2024. Currently leading the Indian Test team, Gill now takes over the T20I vice-captaincy role from Axar Patel, further underlining the selectors’ faith in his leadership abilities across formats.

“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,” Gavaskar added.

IND vs PAK on September 14

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28, with India’s squad selection already sparking controversies and debates. The Men in Blue will begin their campaign against the hosts UAE in Dubai on September 10, followed by the much-anticipated clash with Pakistan on September 14. Their final group-stage fixture will be against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

Gill’s inclusion at the top order has sparked a selection dilemma, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma all making strong cases through their performances in his absence. The team management will face a crucial task in finalizing the best XI for the tournament opener, aiming to set a confident and positive tone from the start.