Asia Cup call-up confirms BCCI’s outlook on Shubman Gill as India’s all-format captain

From 2007 to 2024, it was either MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma who was India's all-format captain.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has never been in favour of split captaincy. In fact, when Shubman Gill was named India’s Test captain in May, it was the first time Team India had 3 different permanent captains.

BCCI never wanted split captaincy

The decision was a forced one. Rohit Sharma had announced his retirement from T20I in 2024 and then followed it by leaving Test cricket in 2025. Suryakumar Yadav was named India’s T20I captain, with Rohit Sharma continuing only in ODIs. InsideSport had learnt that the board wasn’t keen on having different in-charges. But that’s just how it was.

“We never wanted split captaincy. But this is how it has panned out. Rohit has won two titles, and we want him to continue leading till the ODI World Cup. As for the T20I side, Surya is already doing a good job, and we have a World Cup to win next year. It would not make any sense to replace him now,” a senior BCCI official had told InsideSport.

Shubman Gill, destined to be India’s all-format captain

Ever since his under-19 days, Gill has been considered a future leader. Making him India’s white-ball vice-captain in 2024 over Hardik Pandya was a clear indication of what the BCCI was thinking. Then the board doubled down. Gill was named India’s Test captain despite averaging 35.05 after 32 matches.

It was clear that BCCI wanted Gill as India’s next all-format captain. He’ll be the heir to the throne that belonged to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The board was proven right when Gill tumbled record after record against England on his Test captaincy debut. BCCI showed faith in him, and Gill paid them back in full.

And now, unsurprisingly, Gill has been named India’s T20I vice-captain for the Asia Cup 2025. There have been murmurs about BCCI wanting to move on from Rohit. The opener will be 40 by the time the ODI World Cup 2027 commences. Who knows whether his body or form will hold up by then?

As for Suryakumar, he’ll be 38 by the time the next T20 World Cup arrives in 2028. The BCCI clearly sees Gill leading Team India in both of these events. And that’s why Gill’s being brought back to the T20I side again. One can’t forget that he leads the Gujarat Titans and improved as the India vs England Test series progressed.

With age and form on his side, it won’t be shocking if, post the T20 World Cup 2026, Gill is named India’s all-format captain.