Mumbai, Aug 22: Shreyas Iyer is leading the race to become India’s next ODI captain. According to sources, the selectors see Iyer as a long-term replacement for Rohit, as far as captaincy in concerned. On Tuesday, Iyer was snubbed by the selectors from India’s 15-man Asia Cup squad, which saw the return of Shubman Gill to the T20I side.Gill was also named vice-captain for the tournament and will deputise Suryakumar Yadav during the continental event. It has now been learnt that Gill, who recently began his reign as Test captain, is also set to take over the leadership mantle from Suryakumar in the format.
The decision on India’s ODI team could come as soon as after the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be played from September 9-28 in the UAE.
In addition, both Rohit and Virat Kohli will be allowed to take a call on their ODI future. The selectors also want to free Rohit from captaincy burden.
Reports have been circulating that Rohit and Virat could play their final ODIs during the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia.
Meanwhile, legendary Indian cricket team batter Sunil Gavaskar backed the decision to appoint Shubman Gill as the vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Amid raging debates over his spot in the squad, the BCCI showed huge support by making Gill the deputy to skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Gavaskar believes that it was a good decision considering Gill’s stunning form in the Test series against England and added that this puts him on course to become India’s all-format captain in the near future.
“He scored over 750 runs just a couple of weeks ago. You cannot exclude a player in that kind of form. Giving him the vice-captaincy is also a way of telling him that in the future, he could be leading the T20 side. I think it’s a very, very good selection,” Gavaskar said.
“He was very impressive in England as well. To score 750-plus runs while leading the side for the first time shows how well he handled pressure. This vice-captaincy is a clear sign that he is destined to lead India in the future,” he added.
Gill played his last T20I in July 2024 against Sri Lanka, and his return to the shortest format hints at India’s plans to unveil him as an all-format player after his leadership elevation on the England tour. Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side in the T20Is.