‘Shubman Gill's strike-rate is a little lesser’- Veteran India all-rounder shares bold opinion on India’s Asia Cup squad

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill’s inclusion in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. The 15-member team was announced on Tuesday, August 19, with Gill earning the vice-captaincy role, reflecting the selectors’ confidence in his abilities and leadership potential.

Gill has been in exceptional form recently. In the England Test series, he amassed 754 runs across five matches, showcasing his consistency and temperament in challenging overseas conditions. His ability to anchor the innings while scoring at a healthy pace made him one of India’s standout performers in the series.

In addition to his Test success, Gill also excelled in the IPL 2025 season. He scored 650 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 155.87, underlining his aggressive and impactful batting style. His combined performances across formats make him a key asset for India in the Asia Cup.

See Also: Highlights of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad: Gill, Bumrah return; Shreyas, Yashasvi left out

Irfan Pathan's Opinion on Shubman Gill’s Strike-Rate:

The 2025 Asia Cup will take place in the UAE from September 8 to 28. The tournament features eight teams split into two groups of four. Each team will face their group opponents, aiming to advance to the knockout stages, making the competition highly competitive and exciting for fans across the region.

India’s Asia Cup squad has been announced, with Shubman Gill appointed as vice-captain. Former cricketer Irfan Pathan noted that Gill’s T20I strike rate of 139.27 from 21 matches is lower than some peers. Pathan highlighted that it will be interesting to observe how the right-handed batter adjusts and performs in the upcoming tournament, especially given his leadership responsibilities and the expectations surrounding his return.

In his YouTube channel, he said, “ In international cricket, Shubman Gill's strike-rate is a little lesser. If he can increase it, that responsibility will be on him. It will be important to see how he adapts himself to this format. Batting regularly with a good strike-rate in T20 cricket in Ahmedabad and other pitches which are slow, this would be a challenge for him and I will look forward to see how he does.”

Irfan Pathan Sees Shubman Gill’s Vice-Captaincy as Strategic Future Move:

Shubman Gill last appeared in a T20I in 2024 ahead of the T20 World Cup. He cameback as vice-captain for India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad. Recently, Gill assumed the role of India’s Test captain, while also serving as the vice-captain of the ODI team, highlighting the team management’s trust in his leadership across formats.

Irfan Pathan believes Shubman Gill’s leadership role in all formats reflects India’s long-term strategy. With T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav already 34, Pathan believes this move signals that Gill could eventually take over leadership responsibilities in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, positioning him as a future cornerstone for India’s teams across all formats.

He further said, “ I had told that this selection would be divided into two things, whether you do the right thing or plan for the future. Do you go with both or go on one side? The selectors have made it clear that they want to do the right thing but there is also future planning. Shubman Gill comes in and becomes the vice-captain, which is a clear indication of what the future planning is. Suryakumar Yadav is 34 and you have to look forward as well.”

Shubman Gill brings valuable captaincy experience, having led the Gujarat Titans for two IPL seasons. The Asia Cup offers him a chance to further develop his leadership skills in T20Is under the mentorship of Suryakumar Yadav, gaining experience and confidence in managing the team at the international level while adapting to the challenges of the shorter format.