All-rounder Axar Patel is considered unlikely to be retained as India’s vice-captain for the next Asia Cup T20. While the versatile cricketer is expected to be a vital member of Team India’s T20I squad, new Test skipper Shubman Gill is likely to be appointed Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy for the Asia Cup.
The BCCI selectors surprised many by picking Axar as vice-captain of the T20I side that faced England in a five-match T20I series earlier this year. The extremely underappreciated all-rounder received recognition for his consistency in the format. Axar also impressed as the Delhi Capitals’ (DC) captain in the 2025 IPL season.
According to Revsportz, Gill is poised to be selected India’s vice-captain for the 2025 Asia Cup, which will take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28. According to sources, a website report indicated that while skipper Suryakumar is expected to be ready for the T20 event, Gill would most likely be his deputy. During their Test tour of England, the latter scored 754 runs in ten innings.
In January and February the Men in Blue took England to the cleaners by beating them 4-1 in a five match home T20I series. Leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy made 14 wickets in five matches to win the Player of the Series. Abhishek Sharma was the best with 279 runs at an average of 55.80 with a high of 135.
What is Shubman Gill’s record for India in T20Is?
Shubhman Gill represented the Men in Blue in 1 of his 3 T20I debuts when he and his team played against Sri Lanka in 2023, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in January that year. He has 578 runs at an average of 30.42 and strike rate of 139.27 with one hundred and three half- centuries in 21 matches of the format. He smashed a blistering 126 off 63 balls against New Zealand at the Ahmedabad stadium this February with 12 fours and 7 sixes.
The last time he played in the format was in July 2024 when he played India against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Although he has only appeared in a few T20Is of the Indian team, Gill is an old timer in the IPL. He has accumulated 3,866 runs at an average of 39.44 in 118 T20 league matches with the help of four hundreds and 26 half centurys and it has a strike rate of 138.71.
