Is Shubman Gill a certainty in the Asia Cup squad?
The answer is maybe not.
This isn’t a reflection on Shubman Gill, the batter. He is a first-rate batter and someone who can score runs in any condition. In fact, if he plays 10 T20 games, he could well score in seven of them. Also, he has had fantastic seasons with Gujarat Titans. And yet from what I hear he isn’t a certainty in the Asia Cup squad. While things can indeed change between now and 20th when the selection committee is expected to meet, as on date, Gill might struggle to find a place in what is being looked at as a “set team”.
Sources close to developments say that Sanju Samson has scored three hundreds in his last 10 T20Is and has done well as an opener. It wouldn’t be fair to push him down the order and accommodate Gill. Abhishek Sharma is the number-one ranked T20 batter in the world while Tilak Varma is the second-ranked batter. India, under Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav, has sought to give clarity and continuity to the players. In fact, even Gill had spoken about continuity in England in the red-ball format and that’s what could now be a feature of Indian cricket going forward.
In such a situation, to include Gill could mean not doing justice to the others. Also, the Asia Cup is like a rehearsal for the World Cup in India, in February-March 2026. Unless Samson, Abhishek and Tilak are exposed to tough situations, one wouldn’t know what they are really made of.
Finally, just IPL performances wouldn’t be the index for making the team. Going by that Sai Sudharsan would have been a contender. He isn’t. Tilak and Samson did not have very good IPL seasons and yet have done well for India. That’s what is expected to go in their favour. Rinku Singh too might find a spot despite not having a good run with KKR. This is because he did well for India in the limited opportunities that he got.
While not everything is certain yet, to say that Gill will be picked and made vice captain is premature.
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