Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan supports Shubman Gill’s inclusion in the T20I squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025. Following a memorable test captaincy debut, the 25-year-old returns to India’s 20-over squad after more than a year and has been appointed as the team’s vice-captain for the high-profile tournament.
However, Gill went on to receive criticism. His presence in the starting XI serving as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy could potentially push the in-form opening batter, Sanju Samson, down the batting line-up.
Regardless of the trolls, Irfan strongly believes that Gill can adapt his batting style according to the T20I format, regardless of his absence for a long time.
Gill’s Appointment With Suryakumar’s Consent? Irfan Pathan Opens Up
Irfan Pathan silenced the critics, revealing that Shubman Gill’s appointment as the new vice-captain wouldn’t have happened without the involvement of Suryakumar Yadav:
“Yes! Shubman Gill being selected as vice-captain wouldn’t have been possible without SKY’s consent.
Compared to other players in the group, Gill is one such cricketer who can prove his best by playing aggressive cricket, given his ability and a lot of scope,” Pathan said.
‘Shubman Gill Improved a Lot in T20 Cricket’: Irfan Pathan
Furthermore, Irfan Pathan explains how Shubman Gill improved his skills in T20 cricket by maintaining a 150+ strike rate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025:
“See! The last few years of IPL show how Shubman Gill has improved his performance in the T20 format. Earlier, his strike rate used to be around 120 to 125 when he used to play for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). But, in IPL 2025, he has taken it above 150. The way he performed in the last season by accumulating runs at a strike rate of 155.87 was truly outstanding.
I am confident enough that Gill can adapt according to India’s aggressive brand of playing cricket,” Pathan said during an interview with India Today.
Shubman Gill: A Leader to Guide From the Front?
Irfan Pathan is confident about Shubman Gill’s rise to a leadership role, which will be an added benefit for the youngster to adapt according to the game situation and lead the team from the front:
“See! Don’t forget that Gill is a leader. As a captain, you are under pressure to make noteworthy contributions in multiple ways. As a T20I vice-captain and test cricket skipper, he will try to prove his worth in the playing XI by adopting an aggressive playing style and leading his team from the front.
Every batter in the Indian team has elevated their strike rate to a higher level. They wanted to follow an attacking strategy. I can assure that Gill won’t have any issues adjusting according to the team’s requirements,” Pathan added.
‘Play According to the Situation’: Pathan Cautions Gill From Changing His Approach
At the same time, Irfan Pathan warned Shubman Gill not to make any changes to his batting approach. He explained that sometimes a team needs a player who can alter his batting style— slow or fast, based on the situation, particularly on tricky pitches in T20 cricket:
“Certainly! Try not to be too concerned with your strike rate. Analyze the match situation and play according to that. At times, when you’re chasing a 140-run target on a challenging pitch, the strike rate becomes the secondary factor. But, Gill can enhance his strike rate if his team’s demands,” Pathan concluded by giving an important suggestion.
A Breakup to India’s Successful Opening Combination in T20Is
Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I squad as the vice-captain for the Asia Cup 2025 is likely to put an end to the successful opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. The duo batters redefined India’s fearless batting approach in T20Is at the top order.
After the T20 World Cup 2024, both Abhishek and Samson, as the opening batters, compiled 535 runs and 487 runs respectively at a strike rate above 175.
As Gautam Gambhir is cautious about following the left and right-handed batting combination, it becomes clear that Abhishek secures his role as an opener. So, these batters are likely to fill the first six positions in the batting order:
- 1st Position: Abhishek Sharma (Left-Handed Batter)
- 2nd Position: Shubman Gill (Right-Handed Batter)
- 3rd Position: Tilak Varma (Left-Handed Batter)
- 4th Position: Suryakumar Yadav (Right-Handed Batter)
- 5th Position: Hardik Pandya (Right-Handed Batter)
- 6th Position: Jitesh Sharma or Sanju Samson (Both Right-Handed Batters and Wicketkeepers)
With Gill expected to take over the opening spot from Samson, he is certainly under pressure to make huge contributions and silence the critics predicting his failures in the 17th edition of The Asia Cup.
Also Read: Babar Azam vs Salman Ali Agha: Best T20I Captaincy Record
Conclusion
Shubman Gill’s form with the bat in IPL 2025 has been remarkable, having amassed 600+runs in 15 innings at an average of 50. This proves his ability to switch gears and accelerate his team’s run-rate in the T20 format.
However, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have shown their intent to attack right from the first ball, but Shubman Gill follows a cautious approach in the initial stages of the innings.
While the T20 format demands a fearless approach, Gill has always followed a risk-free strategy at the early stage before shifting to the momentum in the middle and death overs. Overall, it remains to be seen if the young batter can give the psychological transformation to play with a fearless approach in a high-octane and competitive tournament like the Asia Cup 2025.
