Will Shubman Gill become as white-ball captain for team India? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explains

Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors for the Indian cricket team, has announced Shubman Gill as the new vice-captain for India’s white-ball cricket. Gill will support Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20I series and ODIs in Sri Lanka. This decision follows the exclusion of Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul from the role.

At 24, Gill has quickly risen through the ranks. He recently captained India to a 4-1 series win over Zimbabwe in T20Is and had a stellar year in 2023 as an ODI batter. Gill also led the Gujarat Titans to success in the IPL and showed his leadership skills during a tough Test series against England.

Agarkar explained the reasoning behind Gill’s appointment. “Rishabh Pant has been out for a while, and we want to ease him back into the game. KL Rahul hasn’t been part of T20Is recently. We need to plan for the next two years and see how things evolve,” Agarkar said.

Agarkar also addressed the challenges faced when Hardik Pandya was injured and Rohit Sharma was unavailable. He emphasized the need to avoid such situations in the future.

“Shubman is a player who we believe can perform across all formats and has shown strong qualities over the past year. By giving him the vice-captaincy, we aim to prepare him for future leadership roles. He will learn from experienced players like Suryakumar and Rohit, helping us avoid last-minute leadership changes if injuries or form issues arise,” Agarkar added.

Gill’s new role is seen as a strategic step to develop his leadership skills and prepare him for greater responsibilities in the Indian cricket team. His performance will be closely watched as India looks ahead to its international fixtures.