Shubman Gill’s T20I Captaincy Hopes Dashed as Suryakumar Yadav Retains Role; Asia Cup Squad Announcement Next Week.
Suryakumar Yadav Set to Continue as T20I Captain for Asia Cup
The speculation around Shubman Gill’s potential return as T20I captain for the upcoming Asia Cup has been put to rest, with fresh media reports suggesting that the BCCI selection committee will retain Suryakumar Yadav at the helm. The Asia Cup is scheduled to start on September 9 in the UAE.
According to the Times of India, the squad announcement will take place on August 19 in Mumbai, following a selection committee meeting led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar. A press conference will be held the same day to reveal the final list. Sources confirmed that Suryakumar, the current T20I skipper, will also attend the meeting.
Currently recovering from sports hernia surgery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Suryakumar has resumed net training, signaling his readiness for the continental tournament.
Why was Gill’s name in speculation for leadership?
The much-talked-about possibility of Shubman Gill being named India’s new T20I captain after his stellar tour of England has been firmly dismissed. Gill, who led a young Test side to a remarkable 2-2 series draw in England and amassed a record 754 runs in 10 innings, was seen by many as a strong contender for all-format leadership.
However, the latest report confirms that Suryakumar Yadav will continue as T20I captain. In a surprising twist, it also suggests Gill might not even feature in the Asia Cup squad, with selectors set to stick to the current opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
The shake-up doesn’t end there. Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite a strong series in England, is likely to miss the tournament after being advised to focus on red-ball cricket. Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, who showed form in the IPL earlier this year, is also expected to be overlooked. According to sources, the move signals the selectors’ intent to prioritize stability in the current T20I setup while grooming players for specific formats.
