Shubman Gill entered the Asia Cup 2025 as one of India’s most talked-about names. Fresh from a successful Test series against England and impressive IPL outings, the selectors not only drafted him into the squad but also handed him the vice-captaincy. The message was clear: Gill is being groomed as India’s next all-format leader.
Yet, as the group stage concludes, Gill’s bat has remained stubbornly quiet. In three matches so far, he has failed to cross 20 runs. Against UAE in the opener, Gill managed an unbeaten 20 while Abhishek Sharma stole the show with a blistering knock to chase down a modest target of 57. Versus Pakistan, he fell cheaply for 10. And against Oman, his struggles deepened — bowled through the gate by left-arm seamer Faisal Shah for just 5 in Abu Dhabi.
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The dismissal against Oman highlighted the problem. Gill began cautiously, even unfurling a classy off-drive through extra cover, but soon played a loose stroke and lost his stumps in the second over. For a batter touted as the future of Indian cricket, these repeated failures are a worrying pattern.
The criticism has been swift and sharp. Social media is awash with trolls questioning Gill’s place in the XI, particularly as his selection came at the expense of two popular names: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. Jaiswal’s omission was especially surprising, considering his superior T20 numbers in recent months — more runs, a higher strike rate, and greater consistency. Samson too was pushed down the order, his opening slot sacrificed to accommodate Gill.
potential were the main arguments in his favour. The selectors clearly valued his temperament in big matches and envisioned him as a steady influence on slow UAE pitches. But T20 cricket demands instant impact, and so far Gill has offered none.
What makes the debate sharper is the timing. India’s journey now enters the Super Four stage, where they face arch-rivals Pakistan again, followed by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. With only the top two advancing to the final, India cannot afford misfiring openers. Abhishek Sharma has carried the batting at the top, but Gill’s lean run has placed pressure on the middle order far too early in innings.
That said, one poor group stage is not the final verdict on Gill. His pedigree is unquestioned, and as India’s red-ball captain, he carries the temperament to bounce back. The bigger challenge is psychological — to silence detractors and justify the faith placed in him by the selectors. For Gill, the Super Four is not just about runs, it is about answering the question that now looms large: can he be India’s next all-format star, or has he been elevated too soon?
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