Shubman Gill’s Fate Hangs In Balance Despite Dream England Tour News24 –
After hammering 754 runs in just five Tests against England – including four centuries and the ‘Player of the Series’ award – Shubman Gill looked destined to walk straight back into India’s T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. But if recent reports are to be believed, the stylish right-hander’s name is far from a certainty.
Gill, who last played a T20I in July 2024, has since watched India take the field in T20 series against England, Bangladesh and South Africa without him. Despite a glittering IPL 2025 campaign – 650 runs at a strike rate of 156, six fifties, and finishing as the tournament’s fourth-highest scorer – his place in the Asia Cup squad is reportedly under serious discussion.
Why Gill’s Selection Isn’t Straightforward
According to RevSportz, the issue isn’t about Gill’s talent or form – both of which are unquestionable. Instead, the current T20I batting order is seen as a well-set combination. To fit Gill in, the selectors would need to push Sanju Samson down the order, displace Abhishek Sharma – the world’s No. 1 ranked T20I batter or disrupt Tilak Varma’s role at No. 3.
Sources suggest this shuffle might be “unjust to others” in the squad, and the selection committee is cautious about making such changes ahead of a high-stakes tournament.
From Test Dominance to T20 Uncertainty
Gill’s dominance in the longest format since becoming India’s Test captain has been remarkable. His tally of 2,775 ODI runs and strong T20 franchise record make him one of the brightest multi-format prospects in world cricket. But his T20I career with India has been stop-start – 578 runs in 21 matches at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate of 139, including one century.
After the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Gill was only a travelling reserve, he led a second-string India to a series win in Zimbabwe, scoring 266 runs in eight matches that year. However, with the emergence of new top-order stars like Samson, Abhishek and Tilak, opportunities have been scarce.
Asia Cup and Beyond
India open their Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against the UAE, and there have been whispers about Gill being considered as vice-captain – even as a future ODI leader post-Rohit Sharma. But with competition for spots fierce, the selectors must decide whether Gill’s current purple patch in Tests and IPL warrants disrupting a settled T20 batting order.
One thing’s for sure – if Shubman Gill is left out despite his red-hot form, it will spark one of the biggest talking points in the lead-up to the Asia Cup.