While announcing the Asia Cup squad at the press conference following the team selection meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday, chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained the reason behind bringing back Shubman Gill to the T20I fold as vice-captain. “We obviously see some leadership qualities in him (Gill), and his form in England was what we were hoping for. He exceeded all our expectations, which is a great sign when there's so much pressure as captain,” said Agarkar.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav saw Gill's return to the T20I side as his deputy as something pretty natural. “The last T20I series he (Gill) played, I was the captain and he was the vice-captain. After that, he got busy with Tests. Now we are preparing for the T20 World Cup and our journey for it starts with the Asia Cup,” said Surya.
So far so good. But was Gill a unanimous choice as vice-captain? According to a report in The Indian Express, Gill’s appointment as vice-captain for the Asia Cup wasn't an open-and-shut case, for the Agarkar-led selection committee weighed other options, including Axar Patel.
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Axar was appointed Surya's deputy before the home T20I series against England earlier this year, and he instantly developed a good rapport with the captain. Before Axar, Hardik Pandya was the vice-captain of the T20I side. From Pandya to Axar and now Gill, it's been a vice-captaincy merry-go-round.
A section of the selection committee, it is learnt, was in favour of continuity. But Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach who joined the selection meeting virtually, reportedly threw his weight behind Gill, which clinched the deal. Eventually, all agreed that the 25-year-old should be groomed as India's all-format captain.
Gill is already the Test captain and he is here to stay. His success in the England series was a real shot in the arm, but even without that, he was a long-term appointment. Rohit Sharma’s days in the ODIs could be numbered and Gill is his heir apparent. In the T20Is also, there could be a change of guard after the World Cup in February-March next year.
Surya is 34 years old and might be heading towards the autumn of his career. Gill is the man for the future. His vice-captaincy for the Asia Cup came in accordance with that.
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