Follow UsIf reports are to be believed, Shubman Gill is set to make a sensational return to India’s T20I set-up for the Asia Cup 2025, starting September 9. Not only will the 25-year-old be back in the shortest format, but he is also tipped to take over as India’s new T20I vice-captain, serving as deputy to skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
Gill last featured in a T20I in July 2024, and since then, India have built a formidable top-four in Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma - all delivering runs at exceptional strike rates. But Gill’s outstanding recent form has made his recall hard to ignore.
The Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper forced his way back into the reckoning with a stellar run in IPL 2025, where he led his team to the playoffs and scored 650 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.9. His red-ball form has been equally impressive - taking over the India Test captaincy from Rohit Sharma and smashing 754 runs at 75.40 in England.
The selectors are reportedly delighted with Gill’s batting form and leadership skills and are eager to get him back into the T20I set-up. However, Gill’s comeback might also mean the end of the road, at least temporarily, for someone.
We look at three players who could be dropped if Shubman Gill makes his T20I return.
India haven’t had a top-order dasher quite like Abhishek, who plays with the sole intent of blasting opposition attacks in the powerplay. The left-hander has scored 535 runs in 16 T20I innings at 33.44 with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 193.8, including two centuries.
While inconsistency is a natural byproduct of his fearless approach, his ability to win games single-handedly makes him hard to drop. Even in IPL 2025, he smashed 439 runs at 33.77 and a strike rate of 193.4 for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Yet, with Gill likely slotting into the top order, Abhishek could find himself on the chopping block, and it wouldn’t necessarily be the right call. After all, there's a reason why he is the top-ranked T20I batter.
Samson’s IPL 2025 campaign was hampered by injuries, but he still managed 285 runs in nine games at 35.63 and a strike rate of 140.4. In T20Is, he boasts three centuries in his last 18 innings but has also endured a lean run in the others, scoring just 160 runs at an average of 11.4, with eight scores of 5 or below.
That inconsistency might tip the scales in Gill’s favour, as the latter offers greater stability. Dropping Samson, however, creates another headache: finding a wicketkeeper who can bat in the lower order, with someone like Jitesh Sharma being a potential replacement. But accommodating Jitesh would mean dropping yet another middle-order batter.
If India want to retain both Abhishek and Samson alongside Gill, the more likely sacrifice could be Rinku. The left-handed finisher has struggled for impact lately, scoring just 130 runs in his last 13 T20Is at 16.25 and a strike rate of 126.2.
His IPL form has also dipped, averaging 23.38 across the last two seasons. Dropping Rinku would require India to rejig their middle order, but it’s still a more straightforward adjustment than dismantling the current top order.