The process to appoint India’s next T20I captain is underway and batting star Shubman Gill is leading the race as is evident from the selection committee’s recent decision to name him as the vice-captain
for the upcoming Asia Cup in UAE. The team management has set its sights on the India Test captain as a long-term replacement for Suryakumar Yadav who will turn 35 next month.
Gill last played a T20I in July 2024 during the Sri Lanka tour and had also led India in a bilateral series in Zimbabwe right after the World Cup in the Americas which he wasn’t part of. For the past year or so, he has been busy playing the longer formats for India.
However, with the next T20 World Cup now nearly six months away, the preparations have begun with the next month’s Asia Cup. According to Dainik Jagran, once Suryakumar leaves T20I captaincy, Gill will be named as his successor.
Earlier this year, Gill was appointed as India’s Test captain following the retirement of Rohit Sharma. In his first series as captain, Gill oversaw an entertaining 2-2 draw during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy besides scoring over 700 runs including a record double-century at Edgbaston.
However, Gill will not be made the ODI captain considering his workload. The board is lining up middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer to succeed Rohit Sharma as the one-day captain.
Questions Over Axar’s Removal
Allrounder Axar has been removed as the T20I vice-captain with Gill making his return to the format. Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif said Axar deserved an explanation over why he was replaced.
“I hope Axar Patel was informed about his removal from vice-captaincy in advance and he didn’t come to know about it from the press conference. Axar did no wrong so he deserves an explanation,” Kaif posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Axar has become an indispensable player in India’s T20I setup and played a key role in the team’s triumph at the world cup last year. In the semifinal of the tournament, he won player-of-the-match award for his spell of 3/23 against England. Then in the title clash against South Africa, he scored a fighting 47 off 31 to bail India out of a tricky situation. He later dismissed dangerman Tristan Stubbs before India sealed a dramatic win in the last over.
