NEW DELHI: The announcement of India’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad has sparked conversations, with the selection of Shubman Gill as the team’s vice-captain becoming one of the major talking points.
Addressing the media during the squad reveal, chief selector Ajit Agarkar shed light on this significant decision.
“Gill has been vice-captain in Sri Lanka as well,” Agarkar stated. “You always want to be on the lookout for leaders. I won’t look into it much but a lot of the feedback for these decisions comes from the dressing room.”
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At 25, Gill has already established himself as one of India’s premier batsmen across all formats, having amassed 2328 one-day international (ODI) runs in 47 innings with an average of 58.20.
With his average backing his potential, Gill has emerged as a natural leader on and off the field, making him a fitting deputy to captain Rohit Sharma.
India’s squad for the Champions Trophy features a mix of seasoned campaigners and youthful talent.
Also See: 2025 Champions Trophy
Alongside Gill and Rohit, the batting lineup includes Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer, offering a balance of experience and energy.
Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul provide wicketkeeping options, while all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel lend depth in both batting and bowling.
The bowling arsenal comprises frontline pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Arshdeep Singh, with Kuldeep Yadav as the leading spinner.
India begin their campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by high-octane clashes against Pakistan (February 23) and New Zealand (March 2), all in Dubai.