There was never a doubt about Shubman Gill class and quality as a top-order batter in any format. He was already a superstar in ODIs, and after leading India in the England Test series, he proved his red-ball credentials. But questions remain about his role in India’s T20I plans ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
Gill did not feature in India’s last three T20I series against Bangladesh, South Africa, and England. Selectors focused on Tests and ODIs with the Champions Trophy approaching. Still, Gill stayed in the T20I setup. He was part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad as a travelling reserve and later led India in Zimbabwe before becoming vice-captain against Sri Lanka.
India’s bench strength has been impressive. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson scored big runs at the top of the order. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma also shone, with Tilak breaking the world record for most T20I runs between dismissals — 318 runs without losing his wicket.
Harbhajan Singh: “Cannot undermine Shubman Gill”
Where does this leave Gill for the Asia Cup? Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes selectors cannot ignore him.
“Yes, we do have players like Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma, but you cannot undermine or underestimate Shubman Gill. He is a very talented batter who can adapt to any format. He is an all-format player. In my opinion, he can play T20s and even dominate the format. We as fans are used to seeing fours and sixes every ball, but you also need batters who can play long innings and rescue the team when required,” Harbhajan told TimesofIndia.com.
Gill’s growing T20 record
Shubman Gill has built a strong T20I record with 578 runs in 21 matches at an average of 30.42. He holds a strike rate of 139.27, with one century and three fifties. His IPL 2025 season was even better, where he scored 650 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.87, including six fifties. Gill is also one of the few Indian batters with centuries in all three formats.
“Solid player with strong basics”
Harbhajan highlighted Gill’s strong foundation and adaptability.
“In the T20 format, it’s important to understand that it’s not just about big hitting. If Shubman decides to attack, he can match anyone because he is a very solid player with strong basics. A batter with such a strong foundation can score runs in any format. If you look at the IPL, Shubman has scored runs every season. He has worn the Orange Cap — and that doesn’t happen by chance. And it’s not like he bats only at a strike rate of 120 or 130; he can also bat at a strike rate of 160,” Harbhajan added.
With Harbhajan’s backing and his consistent T20 numbers, Gill looks set to remain a key contender for India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad.
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