From sidelines to second-in-command: Gill’s fast-track to the top

Ajit Agarkar was asked if the coronation of Shubman Gill as an all-format captain had already started. The question seemed rather bizarre with Suryakumar Yadav sitting right there, but then that seems the reality — or rather, the future reality of Indian cricket. The Gill era in Indian cricket seems to have well and truly begun, even if he is only the vice-captain at present in the Twenty20 format.

“We obviously see some leadership qualities in him, and his form in England was what we were hoping for. He obviously exceeded all our expectations. With the kind of form that he showed with his bat when there’s so much pressure on you as a captain which is a great sign,” the chairman of the selectors said, giving the youngster a resounding thumbs-up, after announcing India’s squad for Asia Cup.

Gill last played a T20I more than a year ago (in July 2024 in Sri Lanka), and until just hours before the selection meeting on Tuesday (August 19), it seemed unlikely he would be part of the Asia Cup fray. Yet, there he is — named vice-captain, the second most important member of the side after Suryakumar, and part of the team management that will make the key calls.

It now seems inevitable that Gill will bat at the top - at No. 1, 2, or 3 - which puts the positions of Sanju Samson (the current T20I opener alongside Abhishek Sharma) and Tilak Varma (the No. 3 batter) under threat. Agarkar dropped a hint, though he stopped short of confirming whether the Test skipper, who opens for his franchise in the IPL, will do the same in the Asia Cup.

“Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available,” the chairman of the selectors said. “He (Gill) was the vice-captain last time he played T20 cricket. Now that he is available, it is their headache to pick the batting lineup. Our headache to pick the 15. We’ve got some real depth.” Agarkar went further to clarify that Abhishek Sharma is untouchable at the top of the order. “Abhishek’s performances make it hard to leave him out.”Having scored 650 as an opener in the IPL, Gill, in all likelihood, will bat at the top. Suryakumar would not reveal the batting order but he welcomed Gill back into the T20 fold. “When he last played T20Is, post the T20 World Cup, in Sri Lanka, I was leading and he was the vice-captain.