September 3, 2025

Shubman Gill is back and how! Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan called Gill’s return as T20 vice-captain before the Asia Cup a ‘‘world of good’’ for Team India in the long run. On Tuesday, Pathan praised the 25-year-old’s aggressive batting, saying Gill will be eager to "prove a point" after a smashing debut as Test captain. Gill’s comeback for the Asia Cup T20s comes right after he shone in Test matches as captain. Pathan was quick to clear any doubts about tension with current T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav. "This selection of being vice-captain of Shubman Gill without the consent of Surya Kumar Yadav would not have happened," Pathan said during a Sony Sports interview. He added that Suryakumar’s role goes beyond just playing well — it’s about nurturing leadership and growing the team. "People might think that puts pressure on him, but what he is doing, it’s actually doing world of good to Indian cricket in the long term," Irfan said. He praised Surya for becoming a respected leader in the cricket world. About Gill’s batting, Pathan said, "The Indian team has gone to higher strike rate. They want to be very aggressive. I don't think there will be an issue for Gill to play aggressively and meet what the team demands." Turning to Rohit Sharma, who has retired from T20Is and Tests, Pathan revealed the star opener wants to keep playing ODIs for as long as possible. "I had a long call with him to know his future plans. He’s very keen and wants to continue playing," Pathan said. However, he warned that getting regular game time will be tough, especially with stars like Virat Kohli also competing for spots. Speaking on young spinner Varun Chakravarthy, Pathan called him India’s potential X-factor. "Varun had a tough time in the 2021 World Cup but now there’s a redemption story waiting. He has a lot of confidence and can definitely bring the X-factor," he said. Lastly, Pathan talked about managing the workload of key bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. "Workload should be managed because players play so much cricket, but trying to manage it during a big series can hurt results," he explained. He compared it to Pat Cummins’ workload management for the Ashes, saying players can’t really rest during crucial matches. With fresh leadership energy from Gill and a mix of experienced stars and exciting talents, Team India looks ready to fire up the Asia Cup and beyond!

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Tags: Shubman gill, Irfan pathan, Asia cup, Indian cricket team, Rohit sharma, Varun chakravarthy,