Gautam Gambhir Accused of “Favouritism” As Shubman Gill Picked Over Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal in Asia Cup Squad
Shubman Gill named vice-captain for Asia Cup 2025, sparking criticism of Gautam Gambhir’s influence in team selection.
India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad was announced on Tuesday in Mumbai, with Suryakumar Yadav set to continue as captain.
The talking point, however, was Shubman Gill being named vice-captain, a move that has triggered strong reactions from fans and experts.
Gill has not been a regular in T20 internationals. In 21 games so far, he has scored 578 runs at a strike rate of 139.27.
While his Test form has been brilliant, including his role in the 2-2 series draw against England, many feel his T20 record does not justify a leadership role in the shortest format.
The decision to promote Gill meant others missed out. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has a strike rate of 164 in T20Is, was pushed to standby.
Shreyas Iyer, who had a blazing IPL 2025 with 600-plus runs at a strike rate of 175, was ignored completely.
These choices have only added weight to the belief that Gill enjoys Gautam Gambhir’s support in the team setup.
Some see this as a long-term plan. Gambhir and the selectors are believed to be grooming Gill for a leadership role across formats.
Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar has also spoken of Gill as a future all-format captain. This vice-captaincy could be the first step in that direction.
But fans were not convinced. Social media was flooded with criticism of Gill’s appointment, with some accusing the selectors of favouritism.
India begin their Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against UAE in Dubai. Whether Gill’s elevation pays off or fuels further debate will soon be put to the test.
